Max Verstappen came close to winning the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, and precisely in his debut, but had a very bitter ending in the final hours of the race. The Formula 1 driver was leading the race with his team after dominating much of the event, until a mechanical problem took the car out of contention.
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After debuting in the competition last year to obtain the necessary license to compete in the GT3 class, the four-time champion intensified his preparation in NLS stages in 2026 to compete in this weekend’s traditional race. The Dutchman shared the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #3 with Daniel Juncadella, Lucas Auer, and Jules Gounon.
The quartet started from fourth overall after qualifying, close to pole position, losing by only 0.8 seconds. Still, the result put the car in a position to fight for victory from the start of the race, starting from the second row of the grid.
Verstappen took the wheel after Juncadella’s first stint and quickly stood out for his bold and daring maneuvers and overtakes on the German circuit. Gradually, the four-time F1 champion gained positions and took the lead of the race.
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Despite the strong pace, the weekend had tense moments. Right after the start, Max lost control of the car and crossed the grass at high speed, narrowly avoiding a heavy crash against the barriers. Later, during the night, the Dutchman also had contact with Maro Engel in the fight for the lead, but both managed to continue without apparent damage.
As night fell, Verstappen Racing opened more than a 30-second lead and seemed on course for victory. However, with about 4 hours remaining, a problem with the drive shaft forced the Mercedes into the pits and ended the team’s chances.
Juncadella ruled out any connection between the contact with Engel and the mechanical failure. “No, I don’t think so. That happened many hours before and it would be very complicated to say it was because of that. It’s just motorsport. Unfortunately, it happened to us today, but I don’t think there is anyone to blame,” said the Spaniard.
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