Mercedes-AMG Motorsport has spoken out after a surprising post-race decision saw Max Verstappen and his team-mates excluded from the results of Saturday’s Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS2) race.
Verstappen had teamed up with Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car, delivering what appeared to be a flawless performance around the demanding Nordschleife circuit. The trio dominated the four-hour endurance race, eventually taking the chequered flag with a massive 59-second advantage over their nearest rivals.
Their victory, however, did not stand for long.
After the race, officials carried out standard technical inspections, a routine process designed to ensure that all teams have adhered to the strict regulations governing the event. During these checks, it was discovered that the Mercedes entry had exceeded the permitted tyre allocation.
Under NLS rules, each competing car is allowed a maximum of six sets of tyres for the duration of the race. However, the car driven by Verstappen and his team-mates was found to have used seven sets — one more than allowed. This breach, though seemingly small, represents a clear violation of the regulations.
As a consequence, race stewards took the firm decision to disqualify the car from the final standings. The ruling effectively erased what had been one of the most dominant performances of the event, stripping the trio of their hard-earned victory.
In response, Mercedes released an official statement addressing the situation. The team acknowledged that a mistake had been made in managing tyre usage during the race. While they did not contest the stewards’ findings, they expressed regret over the error and the unfortunate outcome that followed.
The statement suggested that the issue stemmed from a misjudgment rather than any intentional attempt to gain an unfair advantage. Endurance racing is known for its complexity, with teams needing to carefully monitor strategy, fuel, driver changes, and tyre usage over long periods. In such a high-pressure environment, even small oversights can have major consequences.
Mercedes also emphasized that they are taking the matter seriously and will review their internal procedures to ensure similar mistakes do not happen again in future races.
For Verstappen, the incident marks a disappointing end to what had otherwise been an impressive outing outside of Formula 1. The reigning world champion has increasingly taken part in GT and endurance events, demonstrating his ability to adapt to different racing formats and machinery.
Despite the disqualification, the performance delivered by Verstappen, Juncadella, and Gounon highlighted their pace and consistency throughout the race. They had built a comfortable lead and appeared in complete control long before the post-race drama unfolded.
Ultimately, the situation serves as a reminder of how tightly regulated endurance racing is, where even a minor rules breach can lead to severe penalties. While the official record will not reflect their victory, the team’s performance on track remains a strong indicator of their competitiveness.