Mercedes Shut Down Antonelli’s Nürburgring Dream After Verstappen’s Dramatic… read more
The 2026 Nürburing 24 Hours delivered unforgettable drama, massive crowds, and a painful heartbreak for and his Mercedes-AMG squad. While the Dutch superstar helped create one of the biggest editions of the famous endurance race in history, Mercedes have now made it clear that one of their own Formula 1 talents will not be following the same path anytime soon.
Verstappen made his long-awaited debut in the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife alongside team-mates , , and . Driving the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, the four-time Formula 1 world champion immediately became the center of attention throughout the weekend.
The impact of Verstappen’s presence was enormous. Fans packed the famous “Green Hell” circuit in record numbers, with the event reportedly selling out for the very first time in its 56-year history. Many within the motorsport world quickly began referring to the phenomenon as “the Max Verstappen effect,” highlighting the incredible popularity the Red Bull driver continues to enjoy beyond Formula 1.
On track, Verstappen and his crew looked capable of producing a sensational victory. After intense battles through changing conditions and heavy pressure from rival manufacturers, the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG entry emerged as one of the strongest cars in the field. During the closing stages of the race, the team appeared to be firmly in control.
Verstappen completed a tense double stint on Sunday before handing the car over to Juncadella with just over three hours remaining. At that point, the team held a comfortable lead of around 30 seconds and looked well-positioned to secure a famous win in one of endurance racing’s toughest events.
But disaster struck almost immediately.
Only two laps into his stint, Juncadella was forced to return to the pits after the team detected a serious mechanical issue. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo was pushed into the garage as mechanics rushed to diagnose and repair the problem, which was later revealed to be related to the driveshaft.
The lengthy repairs destroyed the team’s hopes of victory. Despite the crew working frantically to get the car back on track, the No. 3 machine spent most of the final hours in the garage. Juncadella eventually returned to the circuit for a brief closing run, allowing the team to at least take the chequered flag, but the final result of 37th place was far from what had once looked possible.
Even though Verstappen’s team suffered heartbreak, Mercedes still had reason to celebrate. Victory ultimately went to the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol car, driven by , , , and , giving the German manufacturer overall success at the iconic event.
Following the excitement of the race, attention quickly turned toward whether Mercedes’ current Formula 1 drivers could one day compete at the Nürburgring themselves. While previously joked that he might only consider such a challenge after winning multiple world championships like Verstappen, speculation also surrounded teenage sensation .
Antonelli had recently expressed interest in earning the DMSB Nordschleife Permit, the special qualification required to race at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. However, Mercedes quickly poured cold water on those ambitions.
Mercedes F1 deputy team principal made the team’s stance crystal clear during the race weekend. When asked whether the 19-year-old Italian would be allowed to pursue the permit, Lord reportedly answered with a firm “No.”
Although his response came with a smile, the message was serious. Lord explained that he had already discussed the topic with Antonelli and suggested the young driver may not have been entirely serious about racing there just yet. He also joked that perhaps Antonelli should wait until he has “four world championships” before attempting the challenge — another obvious reference to Verstappen’s experience and status within motorsport.
Mercedes clearly believe Verstappen’s years of racing knowledge and maturity make him better prepared for the unique dangers of the Nordschleife. For now, Antonelli’s focus appears set to remain fully on Formula 1 and his growing title fight rather than endurance racing adventures at one of the world’s toughest circuits.