Verstappen Shines at Nürburgring 24h Qualifying; Steiner Foresees Limited 2027 Options

Max Verstappen made a strong start to his Nürburgring 24h debut, topping the timing charts in Qualifying 1 before finishing third. Off-track, former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has weighed in on the Dutchman's F1 future, claiming only three teams could accommodate him if he leaves Red Bull in 2027.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's return to the Nordschleife—and his first-ever night driving experience—highlights his versatility beyond F1. His future remains a major topic as Red Bull faces internal changes and the four-time champion has expressed dissatisfaction with F1's 2026 regulations.

The Details:

• Verstappen completed just over an hour of running in Qualifying 1, setting a fastest lap of 8:18.539 in the Red Bull-liveried Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. He shares the SP9-class car with Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer.
• Qualifying 2 (20:00-23:30 local time) will be his first night session at the 'Green Hell'. Verstappen said: "It's probably going to be the best feeling… The car is normally fastest in the night, so I'm looking forward to it."
• On his F1 future, Steiner told a betting site: "Max can only go to three teams: Ferrari, McLaren, or Mercedes. But is there anything available at the moment?" He questioned whether any team would sacrifice their current driver for Verstappen, calling him "the GOAT" despite Lando Norris being the reigning world champion.

What's next:

Qualifying 2 tonight will test Verstappen's adaptability in darkness. As for his F1 plans, expect continued speculation until Red Bull's 2027 driver lineup becomes clearer—or until a top team makes room for the four-time champion.