Verstappen's Nurburgring 24 Hours Win Hopes Dashed by Driveshaft Failure

Team Verstappen's bid for victory in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours collapsed abruptly when a driveshaft failure forced Dani Juncadella to slow dramatically on track. The #3 Mercedes had been leading a Winward Racing 1-2 with fewer than four hours remaining, but the mechanical issue struck on Juncadella's third stint lap, ending all hopes of a debut win for Max Verstappen's squad.

Why it matters:

The failure robs one of the most high-profile entries of a potential landmark victory in front of a large home crowd. With Mercedes chasing its first Nürburgring 24 Hours win in a decade, the team now pins its hopes entirely on the #80 car rather than the star-studded #3 entry.

The details:

• Juncadella took over from Verstappen with the #3 comfortably ahead, but a driveshaft problem on lap three caused an immediate loss of speed.
• The sister #80 Mercedes – driven by Maro Engel – inherited the lead as Juncadella limped back to the pits.
• The #3 car was wheeled into the garage for a rear-right inspection; after 15 minutes a visibly distraught Juncadella left the garage.
• The #3 has dropped to ninth in classification, effectively out of contention.

What's next:

The #80 Mercedes now carries the team's hopes for a win that would end a 10-year drought at the Nordschleife. With several hours remaining, reliability and strategy will determine whether Mercedes can finally return to the top step.