Max Verstappen completes mandatory night lap in wet Nürburgring qualifying

Max Verstappen ticked a crucial regulatory box during the second qualifying practice session at the Nürburgring, completing a solitary lap in heavy rain to satisfy the mandatory night driving requirement.

As the session began at 8 pm local time, torrential rain transformed the circuit, making conditions vastly different from earlier in the day. Lap times dropped significantly, with Kevin Estre setting early purple sectors in the #911 Manthey Porsche. Lucas Auer piloted the #3 Team Verstappen Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a 10:08.131s before handing over to Jules Gounon, who improved to 9:51.566s. Dani Juncadella later recorded a 9:34.713s, but then a long red-flag period hit as rain intensified.

Why it matters:

The Nürburgring 24 Hours regulations require every driver to complete at least one lap at night, regardless of weather. Failure to do so would result in disqualification or starting from the back. Verstappen's cautious approach ensured he met this mandate without risking an accident, preserving his team's strong position.

The details:

• When Verstappen finally ventured out, the track was still soaked. He tiptoed around a single lap before returning to the garage, gaining valuable wet-weather night experience.
• Overall lap times did not improve compared to the earlier dry afternoon session. The #80 Mercedes-AMG RAVENOL topped the combined timesheet, with Team Verstappen in third.
• Grid implications: 160 teams entered Thursday qualifying. The top 49 advance to Top Qualifying on Friday, where three sessions will trim to 20, then 12, competing for pole.

What's next:

Barring an incident, Team Verstappen is expected to comfortably reach the final Top Qualifying session on Friday. With Verstappen's mandatory night lap complete, the team can focus on outright pace and strategy during the remaining sessions. The wet running also provided crucial data for potential race-day weather scenarios.