Max Verstappen Admitted He Would “Fight Everyone” in Nurburgring … read more 👇
Error: Contact form not found.
and his team came painfully close to victory at the famous , but a late mechanical problem denied them a dream result after dominating much of the race weekend.
The Dutch superstar partnered with , and in the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered under the Verstappen Racing banner. Throughout most of the demanding 24-hour endurance race, the quartet looked firmly in control and appeared destined to secure an unforgettable victory at the legendary German circuit.
For around 20 hours, the team executed their race almost perfectly. Strong pace, disciplined strategy, and excellent teamwork allowed them to build a lead of roughly 30 seconds over the chasing field. With only a few hours remaining, the Verstappen Racing entry seemed to have one hand on the winner’s trophy.
However, disaster struck with just three hours left on the clock. While Juncadella was behind the wheel, the Mercedes-AMG machine developed a drive shaft issue that forced the car into the pits. Mechanics quickly pulled the car into the garage, and hopes of victory faded almost instantly as valuable time slipped away.
That mechanical failure opened the door for the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol car, driven by , , and . Their crew seized the opportunity and moved into the lead before eventually taking the chequered flag.
The victory marked Mercedes’ first triumph in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in ten years, creating mixed emotions for the manufacturer. While one Mercedes squad celebrated a famous win, Verstappen’s team was left wondering what could have been after looking like the strongest outfit for most of the event.
Despite the heartbreak, Juncadella later praised the effort of everyone involved in the Verstappen Racing project. The Spaniard described the race as nearly flawless from a driving and strategic perspective, insisting that the team performed at an exceptionally high level from start to finish.
One of the most interesting details revealed after the race involved Verstappen’s own tactical thinking before the event even began. Speaking during a livestream with Spanish outlet SoyMotor, Juncadella shared a conversation he had with the reigning Formula One champion following qualifying on Friday night.
According to Juncadella, Verstappen specifically requested that the Spaniard take the opening stint of the race instead of him. The reason was both amusing and revealing about Verstappen’s competitive mindset.
Verstappen reportedly admitted that if he started the race himself, he would immediately become too aggressive in the opening stages. The four-time Formula One champion confessed that seeing rivals ahead of him on the first lap would tempt him into battling every driver around him, despite the fact that a 24-hour endurance race requires patience and careful management.
Juncadella explained that Verstappen jokingly told him he knew exactly how he would react in traffic and felt it would be smarter for someone calmer to handle the chaotic opening laps. Verstappen believed allowing Juncadella to begin the race would improve the team’s chances over the full 24-hour distance.
For Juncadella, the request showed the enormous trust Verstappen had in him. He said it meant a lot that one of the world’s biggest racing stars was confident enough to hand over such an important responsibility at the start of such a prestigious event.
The story also highlighted another side of Verstappen’s personality. While he is famous for his aggressive and fearless racing style in Formula One, he also demonstrated self-awareness by recognising that endurance racing demands a different approach. Rather than risking unnecessary battles early on, Verstappen chose a strategy focused on long-term success.
Although the team ultimately missed out on victory because of mechanical failure rather than driver error, their performance across the weekend confirmed that Verstappen and his team were serious contenders at one of motorsport’s toughest races.