Verstappen Dominates in NLS2 Despite Disqualification, Highlighting Elite Pace

Max Verstappen, alongside Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, delivered a historically fast performance at the Nürburgring, driving the #3 Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a win that was later disqualified. The trio completed 29 laps in 4:04:53.328, making it the third-fastest four-hour race in NLS history. Verstappen's personal pace was in a league of its own, significantly outpacing even his elite factory driver teammates and underlining the "F1 pattern" of his dominance.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's performance transcends the post-race disqualification, offering a stark demonstration of his world-class adaptability and raw speed in a completely different discipline. The significant gap to his professional teammates, who are specialists in GT racing, provides a unique real-world benchmark for just how exceptional the reigning F1 champion's talent is, even outside his primary domain.

The details:

• The #3 Mercedes' race time of 4:04:53.328 at the ADAC Barbarossapreis was the third-fastest ever for a four-hour NLS race, with an average speed of 173.070 km/h.
• Verstappen engaged in an intense early battle with Christopher Haase in the #16 Scherer PHX Audi, ultimately taking a lead he would not relinquish.
• Data analysis reveals Verstappen and Haase were in a class of their own during the opening stints, gapping the rest of the SP9 Pro field by an average of about five seconds per lap.
• Internal Team Comparison: The lap time disparity within the winning car was telling:
  • Max Verstappen average: 8:03.111
  • Jules Gounon average: 8:08.580
  • Daniel Juncadella average: 8:16.964
• Verstappen set the car's six fastest laps, with a personal best of 7:53.552. Gounon's best was 7:59.166, and Juncadella's was 8:00.001.
• Of his 13 total laps, Verstappen broke the coveted eight-minute barrier on seven occasions, a consistency unmatched by his teammates.

What's next:

The immediate focus for the Winward team shifts to the upcoming Nürburgring 24 Hours. Verstappen's challenge will be to help translate his unique feel and speed into a car setup that his teammates, Gounon and Juncadella, can also exploit to their maximum potential. The team is expected to delve deeply into the data from this race to find that balance, aiming to convert pure pace into a flawless, winning endurance package.