Max Verstappen escapes major scare at Nürburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen's highly anticipated Nürburgring 24 Hours debut nearly ended in disaster just minutes into his stint, but the four-time Formula 1 champion escaped unscathed and kept his team in contention at the top of the field.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation brings massive global attention to the Nürburgring endurance event. A strong result would further cement his reputation as a versatile driver, while the early scare underscores the unpredictable nature of GT racing on the Nordschleife.

The details:

• Verstappen took over the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Dani Juncadella at the start of the second hour, with the team running third after a chaotic opening.
• Moments later, he suffered a major moment that could have ended the race — but he managed to avoid contact and continued without damage.
• The Dutchman had qualified fourth for the 24-hour classic, raising hopes of an overall victory in his first attempt.
• Former F1 driver Timo Glock is competing in a McLaren 720S with an iconic Michael Schumacher livery, sharing the emotional journey behind bringing that design back to the track.
• A RacingNews365 poll revealed that most F1 fans do not believe a Nürburgring win would top Verstappen's greatest achievements — despite the challenge of the event.
• Glock praised Verstappen's impact on the race, saying the sport must thank him for helping elevate the event's profile.

What's next:

Verstappen and his Mercedes-AMG team remain in the fight for the lead with over 20 hours remaining. Consistency and reliability will be decisive. Meanwhile, a controversial Formula E incident in Monaco between da Costa and Ticktum has prompted calls for stricter FIA monitoring.