Verstappen's Nürburgring team under investigation after qualifying incident

Max Verstappen's foray into the 24 Hours of Nürburgring hit a snag as his #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, shared with Lucas Auer, qualified sixth and is under investigation for an on-track incident. The stewards' review could further penalize the team's starting position for the evening's Qualifiers race.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation in endurance racing outside of Formula 1 is a major draw for fans, and any competitive setback or penalty is closely watched. An investigation so close to the race start adds immediate pressure and uncertainty for his team, potentially impacting their strategy for the crucial 24-hour event next month.

The details:

• The #3 car, with Lucas Auer taking the first qualifying stint, set a provisional time good for fifth place before Verstappen took over.
• The session was significantly disrupted by a 55-minute red flag caused by a heavy crash for the #39 Aston Martin, requiring barrier repairs.
• When running resumed, Verstappen was unable to improve on Auer's best lap time of 8:13.0, leaving the car sixth on the grid.
• The incident under investigation occurred during Auer's stint, where he made contact with the #941 Porsche.
• Pole position for the qualifying race was secured by the #23 BMW, with a trio of Mercedes and a Porsche filling the positions ahead of Verstappen's entry.

What's next:

All focus turns to the stewards' decision, which could see the #3 car handed a grid penalty before the start of the evening's Qualifiers race. This race is a key preparatory event for the full 24-hour endurance classic next month, making a strong, trouble-free run vital for gathering data and building momentum.