The legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours returns this weekend with even more attention than usual as Max Verstappen takes part in one of motorsport’s most demanding endurance races.
The 28-year-old Dutchman will lead the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing effort in the iconic German event, a gruelling challenge of speed, strategy, and survival around the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife. Interest in the race has surged dramatically, with weekend tickets reportedly selling out for the first time in the event’s 56-year history.
The main race begins on Saturday, May 16 at 3pm local time (2pm UK, 9am Eastern in the US) and runs through to Sunday. Before that, however, teams must navigate one of the most complex qualifying formats in motorsport.
How Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifying Works
Qualifying for the Nürburgring 24 Hours is divided into six separate sessions spread across Thursday and Friday.
The opening two-hour qualifying session takes place on Thursday afternoon, May 14. Later that evening, drivers return for a second session lasting three and a half hours, beginning at 8pm local time (7pm UK).
A third qualifying session follows on Friday afternoon, May 15, running for 65 minutes. However, cars competing in the Top Qualifying sessions are not allowed to take part in this final practice outing.
At first glance, the system can seem confusing, but the key lies in understanding the “Top Qualifying” format that determines the front of the grid.
What is Top Qualifying?
The three standard qualifying sessions effectively serve as free practice for the top GT3 competitors, including Verstappen’s Mercedes-AMG entry. These sessions primarily determine the starting order for the lower racing classes.
The major grid positions for the elite categories — SP9 (GT3), SP11 (GT2), AT1, SP-Pro, and SP-X — are instead decided through a separate knockout process called Top Qualifying.
Top Qualifying 1 (TQ1)
Top Qualifying 1 takes place on Friday morning and lasts 30 minutes. A total of 49 cars from the leading classes are expected to compete.
The fastest 20 cars advance to Top Qualifying 2.
Top Qualifying 2 (TQ2)
TQ2 begins shortly after TQ1 concludes and also lasts 30 minutes. The format resembles Formula One’s Q1 and Q2 elimination sessions.
From this round, the seven quickest cars progress to Top Qualifying 3.
Top Qualifying 3 (TQ3)
TQ3 is the decisive pole-position shootout.
Although only seven cars qualify from TQ2, the final session actually features 12 entries because five teams already secured automatic places in TQ3 through previous performances in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the 24h Qualifiers.
Importantly, Verstappen’s team does not have a guaranteed TQ3 place, meaning they must compete through every stage of the qualifying process.
How the Pole Shootout Works
Top Qualifying 3 is effectively a one-lap-style pole shootout.
Each of the 12 drivers is permitted two timed laps, with gaps deliberately created between cars to minimise traffic and prevent drivers from being held up on the narrow and unforgiving Nordschleife circuit.
Another crucial rule is that no driver may compete in more than one Top Qualifying session. For example, Verstappen himself could not drive in both TQ1 and TQ3.
Teams Already Guaranteed a TQ3 Spot
The following five entries have already secured direct passage into Top Qualifying 3:
- #45 Ferrari – Realize Kondo Racing with Rinaldi
- #16 Audi – Scherer Sport PHX
- #47 Mercedes-AMG – KCMG
- #1 BMW – ROWE Racing
- #84 Lamborghini – Red Bull Team ABT
These guaranteed spots were awarded based on performances in earlier NLS races and the 24 Hours Qualifiers.
Three places went to cars with the best theoretical lap times across qualifying and race sessions in NLS1, NLS2, and NLS3. One additional position was awarded based on qualifying pace in the 24h Qualifiers, while another came from race performance during the same event.
Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifying Schedule (UK Time)
| Session | Day | Time (UK) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Qualifying | Thursday, May 14 | 12:15 – 14:15 | 2 hours |
| Second Qualifying | Thursday, May 14 | 19:00 – 22:30 | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Top Qualifying 1 | Friday, May 15 | 09:15 – 09:45 | 30 minutes |
| Top Qualifying 2 | Friday, May 15 | 10:05 – 10:35 | 30 minutes |
| Third Qualifying | Friday, May 15 | 11:00 – 12:05 | 1 hour 5 minutes |
| Top Qualifying 3 | Friday, May 15 | 12:35 – 13:35 | 1 hour |
Verstappen Faces Unique Endurance Challenge
For Verstappen, the Nürburgring 24 Hours presents a very different test compared to Formula One. Instead of short, intense qualifying laps and controlled Grand Prix conditions, drivers must manage traffic from dozens of slower cars, changing weather, and the relentless demands of one of the world’s longest and most dangerous circuits.
With global interest surging around Verstappen’s participation, this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours could become one of the most watched editions in the race’s modern history.