Nürburgring 24 Hours: Verstappen Leads at 16-Hour Mark with 8 to Go

Max Verstappen’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 continues to lead the Nürburgring 24 Hours as dawn breaks over the Nordschleife, with eight hours remaining in the endurance classic. The #3 Winward Racing entry, shared with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella, holds a 14.898-second advantage over the sister #80 Mercedes after 102 laps.

Why it matters:

Verstappen’s presence adds significant star power to the event, drawing global attention to the grueling 24-hour race. A victory would further cement the four-time F1 champion’s versatility, having already won the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year.

By the numbers:

• Top 3: #3 Mercedes leads, #80 Mercedes second, #34 Aston Martin third (1 lap down).
• Gap to third: The #34 Walkenhorst Aston Martin is a full lap behind the leader but leads the #99 BMW by just 0.619 seconds.
• Class leaders: The #130 Red Bull ABT Lamborghini leads the Pro-Am class in 16th overall, while the #900 Black Falcon Porsche leads the Cup class in 22nd.
• Notable retirements: The #1 ROWE BMW (Farfus, Marciello, Pepper, van der Linde) is down in 139th after issues. The #911 Manthey Porsche (Estre, Guven, Preining, Campbell) is also out of contention after an early incident.
• Entries: Over 150 cars started, with 159 still classified after 16 hours of racing.

What’s next:

With eight hours to go, the lead Mercedes must manage traffic and avoid mechanical issues. The Nürburgring’s unpredictable weather could still shake up the order. Verstappen aims to add another endurance crown to his collection, but the #80 Mercedes and a charging #34 Aston Martin remain threats.