Max Verstappen continues to make an impression in his debut at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Thanks to an impressive night stint, the Dutchman put the Mercedes #3 back in the lead before the decisive final hours.
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As the legendary German event entered its most challenging phase in the middle of the night, Max Verstappen once again demonstrated the full extent of his talent on the Nordschleife.
The four-time F1 world champion took the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #3 around 1:30 a.m. local time, after Dani Juncadella’s stint. Immediately after leaving the pits, the Red Bull driver found himself engaged in an intense battle for first place against the Mercedes #80 driven by Maro Engel.
In conditions still extremely tricky on the German circuit, Verstappen quickly went on the attack.
A forceful overtake against Maro Engel
The battle between the two Mercedes quickly provided a spectacular moment. Verstappen attempted an aggressive maneuver to take the lead of the race, with slight contact between the two cars at the moment of the overtake.
The incident forced Maro Engel to widen his line onto the grass, without causing major damage. On his side, Verstappen managed to keep control of his GT3 and, above all, to come out in front.
This sequence perfectly illustrates the intensity of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where every overtake can quickly turn into a disaster on the 25-kilometer German track.
A very solid double stint for the Red Bull driver
Once in the lead, Verstappen perfectly managed his double night stint. The Dutchman maintained a particularly high pace while avoiding the many traffic traps, a factor often decisive on the Nordschleife.
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Since the start of the weekend, the Red Bull driver has impressed with his speed and immediate adaptation to the world of GT3 endurance. Despite his rookie status in a 24-hour race, Verstappen is already behaving like an experienced driver in the discipline.
His stint also allowed the Verstappen Racing team to consolidate its strategy before the final hours of the race.
Verstappen Racing still leading before the final sprint
After Verstappen’s stint, Jules Gounon took the wheel and managed to maintain the advantage gained during the night. The #3 team then handed the car over to Lucas Auer to continue this last part of the event.
With eight hours to go, the Mercedes of Verstappen Racing had about a fifteen-second lead over the Mercedes #80, still lurking.
Nothing is decided yet in a race as unpredictable as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where neutralizations, weather, and traffic can completely upset the hierarchy in a few minutes.
But one thing is already certain: in his first participation in the event, Max Verstappen is confirming that he can immediately compete for victory on one of the most difficult circuits in the world.
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