Max Verstappen’s 24-Hour Nürburgring Debut Derailed by Mechanical Failure

Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen’s bid for victory in his 24-hour racing debut at the Nürburgring ended Sunday morning when an apparent mechanical problem sidelined his car.

Verstappen had led by more than half a minute, sharing a Mercedes AMG GT3 with experienced sportscar racers Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella. Shortly after Juncadella took over from Verstappen, the car slowed due to a rear-right issue, lost the lead, and pulled into the pit lane. It had not returned after an hour.

The Nürburgring race, coming a week before F1 resumes at the Canadian Grand Prix, was a bucket list project for Verstappen. He is a keen racing fan and has questioned his future in F1 this year because he is unhappy with the 2026 cars’ reliance on electrical power. F1 has agreed to make engine changes for the 2027 season after widespread criticism from drivers.

Verstappen made an immediate impact in his first stint Saturday evening, using the fast, aggressive style typical of his F1 driving to climb from 10th to the lead with a series of overtakes. At one point, he lost grip over a bump and ran wide onto the grass, narrowly missing the barrier, and later engaged in a close battle for the overnight lead.

Verstappen was familiar with the Nürburgring after participating in shorter races in recent months, building on years of virtual experience from online simulators. The challenge remained unlike anything in F1.

With 161 cars spread along the 15.8-mile circuit, Verstappen had to weave past much slower vehicles and contend with constantly changing weather on a hilly track where rain could fall heavily in one section while another remained dry.

It was also his first real test of night-time endurance racing without the massive floodlights F1 uses to illuminate the track.