Max Verstappen Falls Short in Nurburgring 24H Qualifier, Takes P6

Red Bull F1 champion Max Verstappen will start sixth in a key Nurburgring 24 Hours qualifying race, finishing over three seconds off pole position in a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3. The four-hour event marks his first competitive night session on the legendary Nordschleife circuit as he builds experience for his full race debut in 2026.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation in endurance racing's most daunting event highlights a growing trend of F1 stars seeking new challenges outside the championship. His performance, while not topping the time sheets, provides crucial seat time on one of the world's most difficult tracks, blending his elite single-seater skills with the unique demands of GT3 and endurance racing.

The details:

• Driving for the #130 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed, Verstappen and teammate Lucas Auer qualified sixth for the first of two four-hour qualifying races.
• Their best lap was 3.524 seconds slower than the pole-sitting #23 BMW, showing the intense competition in the top-tier SP9 (GT3) class.
• The session was interrupted by a lengthy red flag. After it resumed, teammate Auer made contact with another car before handing over to Verstappen.
• Verstappen improved upon Auer's lap time during his stint but could not break into the top five.
• His participation was only possible due to the cancellation of the 2026 F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which originally clashed with this Nurburgring event.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to gaining valuable night-racing experience. The qualifying race itself, starting at 17:30 local time on Saturday, will run for four hours into darkness. This serves as direct preparation for his main goal: competing in the full ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring in May 2026, scheduled between the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix on the F1 calendar. Verstappen has already tasted victory on the Nordschleife, winning an NLS race last month before a disqualification for a minor tire usage infraction.