While fighting for victory, Max Verstappen was stopped dead by an incomprehensible technical problem. The Dutchman is still wondering why.
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The scenario had all the makings of a perfect race for Max Verstappen on the Nordschleife… until everything changed. In the midst of a battle for victory during the second qualifying race, the Dutchman was forced to stop prematurely.
The cause: a sudden failure of the splitter on his Mercedes GT3, which occurred approximately 90 minutes after the start of his stint. A problem as sudden as it was unexplained, which immediately ended his hopes of success.
Verstappen in disbelief
The Red Bull driver did not hide his surprise after the incident, explaining that no warning signs suggested such a failure.
“On my second lap in my second stint, I suddenly felt a lot of vibrations, he recounts. Then the splitter started hitting very hard. At that moment, I understood that it had broken.”
The most frustrating thing for him remains the absence of a clear explanation : “I didn’t touch anyone, so I don’t know how it happened.”
Faced with this unexpected problem, Verstappen is now awaiting answers. He also points out that other Mercedes cars entered in the event did not encounter this type of problem.
“We need to understand exactly what happened” he insists, implying that a thorough technical analysis will be necessary before the next deadlines.
The objective will be to prevent this type of failure from recurring, especially as the Nürburgring 24 Hours approaches.
An intense duel on track
Before this cruel retirement, Verstappen had nevertheless shone on track. Engaged in a tough battle with Christopher Haase, he demonstrated his full adaptability to GT3s.
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“It was quite intense, especially in traffic and duels with other cars” he confides.
Despite the density of the field and the demanding conditions, the Dutchman proved very competitive, confirming his ease on this type of circuit.
Beyond the result, Verstappen still takes away some encouraging elements. The overall behavior of the car satisfied him, and his stints were solid.
“The car was good, so I’m happy about that” he explains, preferring to focus on the positive aspects of his weekend.
Almost complete preparation for the 24 Hours
This qualifying session also allowed Verstappen to fine-tune his preparation for the big endurance race.
He believes he has ticked almost all the boxes: driving in the rain, traffic management, starts in different conditions… only night driving is still missing from his recent experience.
“That’s pretty much all we could do” he concludes, lucid but determined.
Despite the frustration, Verstappen therefore leaves with solid benchmarks … and an intact desire to come back stronger.
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