Max Verstappen survives huge scare early in Nürburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen escaped a major incident just minutes into his stint at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, losing control over a bump and sliding onto the grass before somehow avoiding the barriers.

The Dutchman took over the #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Dani Juncadella at the start of the second hour, with the team running third after a chaotic opening phase. Juncadella had made contact with multiple cars, including the race leader, but survived without penalty.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation in the endurance classic is a rare opportunity to race outside Formula 1, but any crash or injury would have major implications for his Red Bull F1 campaign. The Nürburgring is a high-risk track, and even a minor shunt could sideline the championship leader during the European season.

The details:

• Verstappen took over from Juncadella with the car in podium contention after a frantic first hour.
• The 28-year-old lost the rear over a bump on the Nordschleife, forcing him to cut across the grass at high speed.
• He managed to keep the car off the barriers and continued without losing significant time, though the team likely held its collective breath.
• The #3 car eventually finished the stint without further drama, maintaining its top-three position.

What's next:

Verstappen is scheduled for additional stints as the race progresses, with the team aiming for a strong overall result. The incident serves as a reminder of the thin margins in GT racing, even for a driver of his caliber. Red Bull will be watching closely, hoping their star driver stays out of trouble and returns to F1 duties fully fit.