Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours Dream Ends in Late-Race… read more
endured a dramatic and emotional ending to his first appearance at the legendary after a technical problem ruined what had looked like a strong chance of victory for his No.3 Mercedes-AMG crew.
Taking a break from the Formula 1 calendar, Verstappen swapped his Red Bull F1 machinery for a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entered by Winward Racing. Despite driving a car from a rival manufacturer, the Dutchman still carried Red Bull branding throughout the famous endurance race held at the daunting Nürburgring Nordschleife, often referred to as the “Green Hell.”
Verstappen shared the demanding 24-hour challenge with experienced team-mates , , and . Together, the quartet remained among the leading contenders for much of the event and looked capable of fighting for an overall win.
The race itself was packed with drama, changing weather conditions, and several incidents across the field. Verstappen impressed throughout his stints behind the wheel and even managed to narrowly avoid a serious accident after two cars collided directly in front of him during one of his overnight runs.
As the final hours approached, the No.3 Mercedes-AMG squad appeared to be in a commanding position. Verstappen completed a strong double stint that helped build a lead of around 30 seconds over the No.80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol car. With momentum on their side, Juncadella climbed back into the cockpit hoping to guide the team toward victory.
However, disaster struck almost immediately.
After only two laps, Juncadella detected a major issue with the car and returned to the pits. The Mercedes-AMG was pushed into the garage as mechanics urgently investigated the problem, believed to be linked to the right rear of the car. The emotional impact was clear as Juncadella climbed out and exchanged devastated looks and hugs with team members.
The lengthy repair work destroyed the team’s hopes of winning and dropped the No.3 entry far down the order. Although the mechanics eventually managed to get the car back on track in the closing stages, there was no longer enough time to recover a podium finish. Verstappen’s team ultimately finished 38th overall after what had previously been an outstanding performance.
While disappointment consumed the Verstappen garage, the No.80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol entry seized control of the race. held the lead before worsening weather conditions caused tension late in the event. Light rain began falling around the circuit, forcing teams to make critical tyre decisions.
The No.80 squad reacted quickly by bringing the car into the pits earlier than expected, handing the final stint to on fresh intermediate tyres. Engel successfully handled the slippery conditions and crossed the finish line first, delivering Mercedes-AMG its first Nürburgring 24 Hours victory in ten years after completing 156 laps.
Second place went to the No.84 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, although the team had to overcome a one-minute and 24-second time penalty. The margin at the finish was just large enough to keep the Lamborghini ahead of the No.34 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO, which secured third place.
Elsewhere in the field, several notable names and fan favourites attracted attention. The popular No.33 Dacia Logan completed the race in 120th position, becoming one of the crowd’s most celebrated entries. , nephew of seven-time Formula 1 champion , finished 133rd in the No.65 car.
Meanwhile, , son of former F1 driver and commentator , guided the No.123 Porsche squad to an impressive 12th-place result.
Although Verstappen’s Nürburgring debut ended in frustration instead of glory, his speed, consistency, and composure throughout the event proved he can compete at the highest level of endurance racing.