Max Verstappen survives 270km/h scare in Nürburgring 24 Hours duel with Maro Engel

A hair-raising Nürburgring 24 Hours moment between Max Verstappen and Maro Engel almost ended both drivers' races during a fierce battle for the lead. The two Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3s made contact at high speed along the Döttinger Straight, sending Engel onto the grass before he gathered control. Both escaped unscathed, with Verstappen retaining the lead.

Why it matters:

The incident highlights the razor-thin margins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where endurance racing meets raw aggression. Verstappen's ability to adapt quickly to night conditions and push hard against a DTM champion like Engel underscores his versatility as a driver, even outside Formula 1.

The details:

• The battle: Engel, starting from 25th, climbed to the front and held off Verstappen for over 20 minutes. Verstappen finally passed on the Döttinger Straight, but Engel fought back, pulling alongside approaching Tiergarten.
• The clash: With slower cars ahead, space ran out as the pair went door-to-door at around 270km/h. Engel ended up on the grass but recovered without damage.
• Driver reactions: Engel called it "a lot of fun" and praised the duel, while Verstappen showed similar risk-taking in earlier overtakes, including a bold move with two wheels on the grass.

Looking ahead:

With 13.5 hours elapsed, the #3 Mercedes leads by 15.5 seconds over Engel's #80 car. The #34 Aston Martin sits third, four minutes back. Both drivers have swapped out, with Jules Gounon and Maxime Martin taking over. The race remains finely poised, but this clash will be remembered as a defining moment of the 2026 edition.