Verstappen set for second row start at Nürburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen will launch his long-awaited Nürburgring 24 Hours debut from the second row of the grid after an impressive qualifying performance placed the #3 Winward Racing Mercedes firmly in contention for one of endurance racing’s toughest prizes.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion and his teammates – Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella – decured fourth place on the grid for this weekend’s iconic event at the Nordschleife, positioning themselves at the sharp end of a packed 160-car field preparing to tackle the Green Hell through day and night.

Verstappen took over driving duties during the second phase of the three-part Top Qualifying shootout, successfully guiding the Mercedes AMG GT3 into the decisive final session. From there, Juncadella completed the job, ultimately ending up less than a second away from pole position.

Fastest overall was Luca Engstler in the #84 Lamborghini Huracan GT3, whose benchmark lap of 8m 11.123s secured top spot for the start of the endurance classic.

Mercedes faces tough task despite strong grid position

While Verstappen’s side of the garage emerged in strong shape, the wider weekend has already shown how unforgiving the Nürburgring can be.

Winward Racing’s second Mercedes suffered a major setback after Maro Engel crashed heavily into the barriers during Top Qualifying 2, eliminating the car from the session after earlier showing front-running pace.

Even Verstappen’s entry faces a complicated challenge once the race begins. Mercedes competitors arrived at the event carrying a hefty 35-kilogram Balance of Performance penalty, pushing the AMG GT3 to a minimum weight of 1,335kg – substantially heavier than key rivals from Lamborghini and Audi.

• Read also: Norris keeping a close eye on Verstappen’s Nürburgring challenge

Straight-line speed may also prove an issue across the Nürburgring’s endless flat-out sections, with the Mercedes fitted with 34.5mm air restrictors designed to limit engine performance.

But if there is one circuit where compromise can quickly become opportunity, it is the Nordschleife. The Mercedes package is expected to claw back time through the endless sequence of high-speed corners that define the legendary German circuit, aided by a mandated rear wing setup intended to maximise cornering performance.

Now, with Verstappen already showing he can adapt quickly to endurance racing’s most intimidating arena, attention turns to whether the Formula 1 superstar can convert a promising grid position into a genuine shot at Nürburgring glory.

Saturday's event will kick off at 3pm EST – or 2pm BST, and the action will be streamed live on YouTube, right here.

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