Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifying 1: Mercedes-AMG Leads, Verstappen Third

The #80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 topped the time sheets in the first qualifying session for the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, setting a best lap of 8:14.957. Max Verstappen, driving the #3 Team Verstappen Mercedes-AMG GT3, finished third with a lap 3.582 seconds off the pace, behind the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO in second.

Why it matters:

Qualifying sets the stage for one of the most demanding endurance races in the world. With a grid of over 150 cars, the top positions are critical for track position and strategic advantage during the race.

The details:

• The top three were covered by just 3.582 seconds, with the #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO (8:18.069) splitting the two Mercedes entries.
• Porsche’s best was the #911 911 GT3 R (992) Evo26 in fifth (8:21.717), while Lamborghini’s #130 Huracan GT3 EVO2 took sixth.
• Notable entries include the #64 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (8:26.751) in eighth and the #45 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo26 in 15th.
• The SP 9 class for GT3 cars dominated the top spots, with the fastest non-GT3 being the #81 BMW M3 Touring in the SP-X class.

By the numbers:

• 1st: #80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 – 8:14.957
• 2nd: #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO – +3.112s
• 3rd: #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Verstappen) – +3.582s
• 4th: #99 BMW M4 GT3 EVO – +3.645s
• 5th: #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R – +6.760s

What's next:

The Nürburgring 24 Hours race will see teams battle the legendary Nordschleife for 24 hours. Weather and reliability will be decisive, but Mercedes-AMG has shown strong early pace. Verstappen’s third place suggests he could be a factor in the main event.