Max Verstappen Blocked from Nürburgring Top Qualifying
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has revealed that his own team stopped him from taking part in the Top Qualifying session at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on the legendary Nordschleife.
Verstappen endured a dramatic and emotional weekend at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, competing in both the NLS4 and NLS5 rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. However, tragedy struck on Saturday when Finnish driver Juha Miettinen lost his life in a serious accident, leading to the cancellation of the NLS4 race. The paddock was left in mourning, but racing resumed on Sunday with the scheduled NLS5 event.
Although Verstappen had been expected to feature prominently in Top Qualifying, it was his team-mate Lucas Auer who took the wheel for the crucial session and secured a strong starting position. Verstappen later admitted that the decision was not his own — the team simply would not allow him to drive.
Speaking after the race, the Dutchman explained that he had no issue with sitting out. In fact, he suggested that starting from pole position might not necessarily be an advantage in endurance racing, particularly with a 24-hour event on the horizon. According to Verstappen, the call was likely strategic — avoiding unnecessary attention that could trigger Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments from organisers, potentially slowing their Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the main 24-hour race.
When the lights went out for NLS5, Verstappen started from fifth position and quickly found himself battling at the front. He reignited his rivalry with experienced Audi driver Christopher Haase, a contest that had already flared earlier in the season during NLS2.
However, his charge was cut short. Roughly 40 minutes into his second stint, Verstappen was forced to pit with damage, effectively ending any hopes of victory. The No.3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 ultimately limped home in 39th place — a frustrating outcome after showing early promise.
There was still a bright spot for the team, though. Thierry Vermeulen, son of Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen, impressed by claiming pole position for Sunday’s race. Verstappen praised the young driver’s performance, describing it as “really cool” to watch him deliver under pressure.
Despite the setback, Verstappen’s Nürburgring adventure continues to showcase his passion for endurance racing — even if, this time, team strategy kept him out of the spotlight when it mattered most.