Max Verstappen Shines in Nürburgring 24 Hours
Max Verstappen has delivered a sensational performance during the early stages of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, leading the race for a significant portion of the first quarter. His impressive stint has captured the attention of fans and fellow competitors alike.
After a strong opening from Daniel Juncadella in the #3 Mercedes, Verstappen made his mark by cutting through the pack to take the lead. Jules Gounon maintained consistency before Lucas Auer took over and moved the car back to the front. As of the six-hour mark, the #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG entry is leading the race, followed closely by the #80 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG entry.
Lucas Auer is currently behind the wheel of the #3 Mercedes, having taken over just 20 minutes before the six-hour checkpoint as darkness fell on the Nordschleife. He managed to pass the #80, driven by Fabian Schiller, with a daring move around the outside of Schwedenkreuz, reminiscent of Verstappen's earlier maneuver.
Verstappen took over from Juncadella an hour into the race and executed a double stint that included a risky pass on the #47 Mercedes-AMG with two wheels on the grass. He then overtook the #911 into the first corner, later making a double overtake on the leading duo, the #67 Ford Mustang and the #34 Aston Martin, moving into the lead and creating a 20-second advantage before handing over to Gounon.
Notable Retirements and Challenges
Several notable cars have retired during the opening quarter of the race. The #16 Audi R8 suffered a major setback when Alexander Sims incurred catastrophic damage due to a mistake in traffic, forcing the team to withdraw despite managing to drive back to the pits with an open bonnet. Sims was part of a strong lineup that included Ben Green and Christopher Haase, who were among the favorites for victory.
Another favorite, the #911 driven by Kevin Estre, also faced issues when Estre crashed his Porsche 911, resulting in damage that prevented the car from rejoining the race. The pole car, the #84 Lamborghini, also encountered difficulties as Mirko Bortolotto suffered a puncture on the first lap, causing the car to fall behind.
Race Standings and Performance
As of now, the standings reflect the following:
- Lucas Auer – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – 8:13.690
- Fabian Schiller – Mercedes-AMG GT3 – 8:14.337 (1.1 seconds behind)
- Mattia Drudi – Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO – 8:17.432 (2:30.542 behind)
- Daniel Harper – BMW M4 GT3 EVO – 8:18.953 (2:41.985 behind)
- Connor de Phillippi – BMW M3 Touring 24h – 8:17.045 (3:00.506 behind)
Other notable drivers include Klaus Bachler, Laurens Vanthoor, and Augusto Farfus, each showing consistent performance throughout the race.
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Continue reading for live updates, timing, results, and key moments from the Nürburgring 24 Hours 2026.
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