Full Breakdown
Max Verstappen’s Debut at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
5/17/2026, 5:12:32 AM
Event Overview
The ADAC RAVENOL 24 Hours of Nürburgring took place on 16 May 2026, beginning at 2 p.m. CET ( 3 p.m. local time in some reports) and concluding 24 hours later. The endurance race features 161 cars across 23 classes on the 25 km Nordschleife-GP-Strecke hybrid circuit.
Background and Preparation
Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen entered the event after a year of Nordschleife testing, a virtual iRacing victory in 2024, and a disqualified GT3 win earlier in the season. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo he drives is liveried in Red Bull colours and runs under the Verstappen Racing banner, operated by Winward Racing.
Team and Driver Line-up
Verstappen shares the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with three GT veterans: Spaniard Daniel Juncadella (opening stint), Frenchman Jules Gounon, and Austrian Lucas Auer. The car started fourth on the grid after Juncadella posted an 8:12.005 lap in Top Qualifying 3.
Race Timeline
- Qualifying (Fri 15 May): Luca Engstler secured pole in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 (8:11.123); Verstappen’s #3 Mercedes qualified P4.
- Start (Sat 16 May): Juncadella launched the #3 from P4; early contact forced a Lamborghini to pit and later incurred a 32-second jump-start penalty.
- Hour 1-2: Verstappen took over after Juncadella’s stint, re-joining in 10th place.
- Hour 3: He passed the #911 Porsche and the #67 Ford, claiming overall lead with eight minutes remaining on lap 19.
- Hour 4-6: Verstappen extended the advantage to 20-25 seconds before handing the car to Gounon, who retained the lead.
- Hour 8: Auer reclaimed the lead after a night stint; the #3 remained in the overall top three as the race entered its final 16 hours.
Performance Data
- Grid position: P4 (overall).
- Fastest qualifying lap for Verstappen: 8:11.614 (TQ2).
- Lead margin: up to 25 seconds (hour 4) and 23 seconds (hour 3).
- BoP adjustments: No change to Mercedes; Lamborghini received +5 kg weight, a reduced engine restrictor, and a 32-second penalty to the race leader.
Official Responses
Verstappen described his stint as “good initially,” noting traffic congestion and later “slippery conditions” that allowed the car’s balance to shine. Team engineers highlighted the unchanged Balance-of-Performance for Mercedes as a competitive advantage. Organisers confirmed the penalty to the leading Lamborghini for a jump-start.
Criticism and Opposition
The 32-second penalty imposed on the #130 Lamborghini sparked debate among competitors about the consistency of jump-start adjudication. Some teams questioned whether the BoP changes disproportionately favored Mercedes.
On-Track Observations
Jules Gounon reported “extremely tricky” rain-affected conditions and an oil spill that threatened grip. Lucas Auer noted the difficulty of maintaining pace on intermediate tyres during rapidly changing weather.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact race-start time (2 p.m. CET vs. 3 p.m. local) and on the precise hour Verstappen first assumed the lead (hour 3 versus hour 4). No official clarification has been issued.
Impact and Significance
Verstappen’s participation attracted record spectator interest and extensive media coverage, underscoring the crossover appeal of top-level Formula 1 talent in endurance racing. The performance may influence future driver-exchange programmes and encourage other F1 drivers to explore GT competition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Yeah, it was good initially, of course, I was a bit stuck in traffic, so it was a bit difficult to clear the cars,” — Max Verstappen, post-stint interview
- “Trying to stay out of trouble, but at the same time you have to push and you have to try and be on the limit.” — Max Verstappen, post-stint interview
- “The first stint took place in ever-changing conditions, so we opted for intermediate tires. Overall, we felt confident and everything went relatively smoothly. It was a solid double stint.” — Lucas Auer, team briefing
