Verstappen leads Nürburgring 24 Hours in thrilling closing stages

With less than five hours remaining in the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hours, Max Verstappen has once again stamped his authority on one of motorsport’s toughest endurance races onboard the Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 as the battle for victory enters its decisive phase.

The four-time F1 world champion, already dazzling through the darkness earlier in the race, returned to the cockpit shortly before the 18-hour mark after taking over from Lucas Auer.

Now, with rain clouds circling and conditions growing ever more treacherous, Verstappen is expected to complete a demanding double stint before handing over to Jules Gounon for the closing stages.

And if everything falls into place, Daniel Juncadella will be the man to guide the silver machine to the chequered flag.

Night-time brilliance under pressure

Verstappen’s earlier overnight run proved to be one of the standout performances of the event. On a Nürburgring circuit coated in damp patches and greasy tarmac, the four-time Formula 1 champion looked utterly at home, threading the Mercedes through traffic with remarkable composure.

But the race leader was far from comfortable.

Maro Engel, driving the sister Winward Racing Mercedes, piled on the pressure in a tense duel through backmarkers.

At one dramatic moment, Engel attempted an ambitious move around the outside while navigating slower cars, only to run out of road and dip two wheels onto the grass in a heart-stopping near-miss that could easily have ended in disaster.

Verstappen himself had already experienced his own brush with trouble earlier in the race.

“Yeah, we had a little moment. I think I turned in a bit too early and then, yeah, we had a little moment there. But it was fine, you just have to keep yourself together and stay calm and just focus again,” he added.

That calmness has become a defining feature of Verstappen’s race so far – especially as the weather continues to throw curveballs at the field.

Rain returns as final hours loom

As light rain began falling once more around areas of the Nordschleife on Sunday morning, Verstappen and the Winward squad elected to stay out on slick tyres, gambling that the conditions would remain manageable enough to preserve track position.

The Red Bull charger admitted the uncertainty surrounding the weather has become one of the biggest challenges of the race.

“Yeah, slowly getting ready, but not only the night, also seeing what the weather will do in terms of how much rain is coming down. It’s going to be now, I think, the coming hours very challenging,” he said during the night.

Behind the leading pair of Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3s, the #84 Red Bull Team Abt Lamborghini Huracan GT3 sits in third, though nearly five minutes adrift after an impressive recovery drive.

The Lamborghini had started from pole position, only for an opening-lap puncture to wipe out its early advantage and force an immediate pit stop.

• Read also: Verstappen admits to 'super tough' Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying

Should the two Winward cars maintain formation to the finish, the team would secure the Nürburgring 24 Hours’ first one-two finish since 2008, when Manthey Racing achieved the feat with a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs.

The event's chequered flag is scheduled to fall at 3pm EST (2pm BST), but in the interim all eyes remain fixed on Verstappen – attacking the Green Hell with the same fearless precision that has made him one of the defining drivers of his generation, and in motorsport history.

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