Max Verstappen has reacted after suffering a crushing setback during his debut appearance at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where Team Verstappen Racing was denied victory by a late mechanical failure.
The Dutchman, racing alongside Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, had looked on course for a sensational win in the iconic endurance race before disaster struck in the closing hours.
This year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours attracted record-breaking attention, with tickets selling out for the first time in the race’s 56-year history. Much of the excitement centered around Verstappen’s highly anticipated first attempt at conquering the famous Nordschleife in a 24-hour contest.
Team Verstappen Racing quickly established itself as one of the strongest entries in the field. During a crucial stint on Sunday, Verstappen extended the team’s advantage to roughly 30 seconds ahead of the chasing Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol car, putting the No. 3 machine in a commanding position.
However, the race took a heartbreaking turn shortly after Juncadella replaced Verstappen behind the wheel. The Spaniard reported heavy vibrations only a few laps into his stint and was forced to return the car to the pits. The issue was initially linked to an ABS sensor malfunction before a broken drive shaft ultimately ended the team’s race and destroyed their hopes of claiming victory.
After the retirement was confirmed, Verstappen admitted the result was difficult to process given how competitive the team had been throughout the weekend.
“It’s a very bitter disappointment,” Verstappen said. “As soon as we moved into the lead, the drive shaft failed and our race was basically over. Still, I want to thank everyone who supported us over the weekend.”
Auer also expressed pride in the team despite the painful outcome.
“It’s obviously tough to end the race this way because we had the pace to fight for the win,” he explained. “But at the same time, I’m extremely proud of the effort from the whole team and all my team-mates.”
The result adds to Verstappen’s frustrating experiences at the Nürburgring this year after his Winward Racing entry was previously disqualified during the NLS2 event earlier in the season. Even so, the reigning Formula 1 champion made it clear that he intends to return to the legendary circuit in the future.
Speaking before the technical issue ended their race, Verstappen described the Nürburgring 24 Hours as one of the world’s greatest motorsport events and revealed his desire to compete there regularly.
“This is one of the biggest races on the calendar, and that’s why we wanted to be here,” Verstappen said. “I definitely want to come back every year. Whether it’s with one car or multiple cars, the objective will always be to fight for victories.”
Despite the heartbreaking ending to his first Nürburgring 24 Hours appearance, Verstappen’s comments suggest his journey at the legendary “Green Hell” is only just beginning.