Nürburgring 24 Hours: Verstappen Leads at Halfway After Heated Battle with Engel
Summary
Max Verstappen holds a narrow lead after 12 hours of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, having fought off Maro Engel in a fierce midfield battle. The #3 Winward Mercedes leads the #80 sister car by just over five seconds.
Max Verstappen is leading the Nürburgring 24 Hours at the halfway mark, piloting the #3 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 after a thrilling duel with fellow Mercedes driver Maro Engel. The gap at 12 hours is just over five seconds, setting up a tense second half.
Why it matters:
- Verstappen's participation in the endurance classic adds star power and shows his versatility beyond F1. A win here would be a notable achievement for the reigning F1 champion.
- The close battle between the two Winward cars highlights Mercedes-AMG's strength at the Nordschleife this year.
The details:
- Top 10 standings: After 75 laps, the #3 car leads #80 by 5.175s. Third is the #34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin, one lap down. Fourth is the #99 ROWE BMW M4 GT3, over two minutes behind.
- Notable entries: The #81 BMW M3 Touring 24h sits fifth, while the #84 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini is sixth. The #67 HRT Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (2026) is eighth.
- Retirements: Several high-profile cars have dropped out, including the #911 Manthey Porsche (24 laps down) and the #16 Scherer Sport Audi (out early). The #1 ROWE BMW is also well behind after issues.
What's next:
- The race continues through the night. With 12 hours remaining, strategy and reliability will be key. Verstappen's crew will need to maintain pace and avoid penalties to secure the overall win.
- Expect further battles in the GT3 classes, as the Nürburgring 24 Hours often delivers late-race drama.
Original Article :https://www.planetf1.com/news/nurburgring-24-hours-results-12-hour-update