Verstappen to start from second row at Nürburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen will launch his long-awaited Nürburgring 24 Hours debut from the second row of the grid after an impressive qualifying performance placed the #3 Winward Racing Mercedes firmly in contention for one of endurance racing’s toughest prizes.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion and his teammates – Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella – secured fourth place for this weekend’s iconic event at the Nordschleife, positioning themselves at the sharp end of a packed 160-car field preparing to tackle the Green Hell through day and night.

Verstappen took over driving duties during the second phase of Top Qualifying, successfully guiding the Mercedes AMG GT3 into the final session. From there, Juncadella completed the job, ending up less than a second away from pole position. Fastest overall was Luca Engstler in the #84 Lamborghini Huracan GT3.

Why it matters:

• Verstappen’s first appearance at the Nürburgring 24 Hours draws massive attention to the event and showcases his versatility beyond F1. A strong result would further cement his reputation as one of motorsport’s most complete drivers.
• The weekend also highlights the challenges of GT3 racing, where Balance of Performance and team strategy often outweigh raw driver talent.

The details:

• Winward Racing’s second Mercedes suffered a major setback when Maro Engel crashed heavily into the barriers during Top Qualifying 2, eliminating the car after showing front-running pace.
• Mercedes entries carry a 35-kilogram BoP penalty, pushing the AMG GT3 to a minimum weight of 1,335kg – substantially heavier than key Lamborghini and Audi rivals.
• Straight-line speed may be compromised by 34.5mm air restrictors, but the Mercedes package is expected to claw back time through the Nordschleife’s endless high-speed corners, aided by a mandated rear wing setup.

What's next:

Rain and changing conditions could shuffle the order, but Verstappen’s side has a genuine shot at a podium. The race starts Saturday at 2pm BST, with live streaming available on YouTube. All eyes will be on how the F1 superstar adapts to the grueling 24-hour format.

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