Max Verstappen promoted after late disqualification announced… see details in comment
Max Verstappen has received an unexpected boost in the final classification of the ADAC RAVENOL 24 Hours of Nürburgring, after a post-race technical decision led to a major reshuffling of results nearly a month after the event concluded.
The update came 26 days after the endurance race ended, when officials confirmed that the Red Bull Team ABT entry, car number 84 (a Lamborghini), had been excluded from the final standings. The car was originally classified in second place after a strong performance from its drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Luca Engstler, and Patric Niederhauser. However, following a detailed post-race inspection, irregularities were identified during a mandated rolling road test, resulting in its disqualification.
This ruling triggered a chain reaction across the leaderboard, with every crew that had finished behind the disqualified Lamborghini being automatically elevated one position. As a result, teams that had narrowly missed out on higher placements were pushed up the order, including the Verstappen-linked squad that had endured a dramatic and eventful race.
The endurance event itself was marked by extreme conditions and frequent setbacks for leading contenders in the SP9 GT3 category. Several front-running teams were forced to retire or lost significant time due to mechanical issues and weather-related complications. Early on, the race appeared to be dominated by Mercedes-AMG entries from Winward Racing, who had built a comfortable advantage. However, strategy changes and late-race disruptions, including a delayed pit stop for wet-weather tyres, altered the competitive balance.
Ultimately, the victory went to the number 80 Ravenol Mercedes-AMG entry driven by Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz. Behind them, the Walkenhorst Aston Martin team of Mattia Drudi, Christian Krognes, and Nicki Thiim were initially classified in third place before the later adjustments. Other strong finishers included the ROWE BMW squad, Lionspeed GP Porsche, and Haupt Racing Mustang entries, all of whom benefitted from the post-race reshuffling.
For the Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG entry, the event had already been filled with setbacks. The team, featuring Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Verstappen himself, had been in contention for a strong result before suffering a broken driveshaft with roughly three hours remaining. That mechanical failure significantly reduced their chances of fighting for victory. Earlier misfortunes, including a puncture and an additional lap around the Grand Prix circuit section of the Nordschleife, also cost valuable time. At one stage, the gap to the leaders had narrowed to under a minute, but a Code 60 penalty situation ultimately widened the margin again.
Although the disqualification of the Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini did not directly place Verstappen’s car on the podium, it contributed to an overall upward shift in positions for several competitors, subtly improving final classifications across the board. The outcome highlights once again how endurance racing results can remain provisional for weeks, as post-race technical checks and regulatory reviews continue long after the chequered flag.