Verstappen Racing responds to Nordschleife disqualification

Max Verstappen and his Verstappen Racing team have been disqualified from their NLS2 victory at the Nordschleife due to a tire usage violation in qualifying. The team issued a brief, forward-looking statement acknowledging the "tough outcome" while vowing to move on and focus on future events.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights the intense scrutiny and strict regulations in top-level endurance racing, even for a superstar F1 driver's private team. For Verstappen, who is expanding his racing portfolio beyond Formula 1, it's a setback in his pursuit of success at the legendary Nordschleife, a track he has expressed great passion for. It also tests the operational discipline of his fledgling team outside the F1 paddock.

The details:

• The #3 car, driven by Verstappen, Dani Jucadella, and Jules Gounon, won the NLS2 race after Verstappen drove both the opening and closing stints.
• The victory was stripped hours later when stewards found the team used seven sets of tires during qualifying, exceeding the permitted limit of six sets.
• Verstappen Racing's response on social media was concise: "Tough outcome, but we keep moving. A lot to take from the weekend and plenty to look forward to."
• Mercedes, which provided the GT3 car, also expressed disappointment in a separate statement, underscoring the shared frustration across the partnership.

What's next:

Despite the disqualification, Verstappen's schedule at the Nordschleife remains busy. He is confirmed to race in the prestigious 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May. Furthermore, the reigning F1 champion has hinted he may return to the circuit as soon as next month for the NLS3 round, indicating this setback hasn't dampened his enthusiasm for competing on the Green Hell.