Story perspectives

Verstappen Disqualified from NLS2 Victory, Win Awarded to Rowe Racing

3/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Max Verstappen and the Winward Mercedes-AMG team were disqualified from their Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS2) victory after post-race checks showed they used seven sets of tyres.
The win is awarded to Rowe Racing drivers Dan Harper and Jordan Pepper.
Verstappen had celebrated a commanding win, finishing nearly a minute ahead.
Team principal Christian Hohenadel expressed disappointment and called for thorough analysis before the May 24-hour race at the Nurburgring.

History

Historical Context

The Nürburgring 24 Hours, officially recognized in 1970, has a history marked by technical controversies, such as the disqualification of the Porsche 917 that year for rule violations. This theme of regulatory compliance resurfaced in 2023 when Max Verstappen faced a similar fate. These incidents underscore the ongoing tension in motorsport between performance and adherence to regulations, as emphasized by team principal Christian Hohenadel.

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Story summary

Max Verstappen and the Winward Mercedes-AMG team were disqualified from their Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS2) victory after post-race checks showed they used seven sets of tyres.
The win is awarded to Rowe Racing drivers Dan Harper and Jordan Pepper.
Verstappen had celebrated a commanding win, finishing nearly a minute ahead.
Team principal Christian Hohenadel expressed disappointment and called for thorough analysis before the May 24-hour race at the Nurburgring.

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