Juncadella Hails Aggressive Start at Nürburgring 24h, Regrets Engstler Incident

Dani Juncadella, sharing the Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG with Max Verstappen at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, described his opening stint as "really good" after adopting an aggressive strategy. The Spanish driver briefly climbed to second before a small off-track moment, but remains optimistic about the long race ahead.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation in the iconic endurance race adds star power, and Juncadella's performance sets the tone for the team's challenge. A strong start is crucial in a 24-hour event where early track position can influence strategy.

The Details:

• Juncadella started fourth and quickly moved up, passing an Audi before settling behind the Lamborghinis.
• He reported a minor contact with Luca Engstler at Turn 2, calling it "unfortunate" and expressing sympathy for the resulting puncture.
• "I don't think I was in the wrong place. I don't think I did anything wrong. I don't think he did anything wrong. It's just unfortunate," Juncadella said.
• After a brief off-track excursion on grass, he dropped back to fourth before handing over to Verstappen.

What's Next:

The Winward Racing crew aims to maintain reliability and recover positions over the remaining hours at the Nordschleife. Verstappen and Juncadella will share driving duties, with strategy adjustments expected as weather and track conditions evolve.