Verstappen Impresses in Nürburgring 24h Qualifying 1, Heads into Night Session

Max Verstappen and his Verstappen Racing team are back on track for Qualifying 2 of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, following an impressive showing in the afternoon session. The four-time F1 champion topped the timing charts early with an 8:18.539 before rain hit, leaving the team in P3 overall. Now, Verstappen faces his first ever night-time stint at the Nordschleife, with rain potentially adding to the challenge.

Why it matters:

This endurance race marks Verstappen's return to GT racing and his debut in the iconic 24-hour event. A strong performance here could further cement his reputation as one of the most versatile drivers in motorsport. The night session is compulsory—any driver missing it is disqualified from the event entirely.

The Details:

• Qualifying 1 Recap: Verstappen clocked the fastest lap of the session (8:18.539) before handing over to Daniel Juncadella. The two-hour period was chaotic, including a worrying incident where a Porsche collided with a stationary car while a driver was nearby.
• Night Challenge: Qualifying 2 runs from 20:00 to 23:30 local time (19:00-22:30 BST). Verstappen is eager: “It’s probably going to be the best feeling. You’re by yourself, pushing in the night. The car is normally fastest in the night, so I’m looking forward to it.”
• Weather Factor: Rain is possible over the weekend, adding complexity to the already demanding Nordschleife. The team is running a Red Bull-liveried Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in the top SP9 class.

What's Next:

After Qualifying 2, the focus shifts to Top Qualifying on Friday morning (08:50-09:25 local time), where the battle for pole position in the leading categories truly heats up. Verstappen and his teammates—Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer—will aim to convert their early pace into a front-row start for the 24-hour race.