Verstappen shrugs off scary airborne Nurburgring near miss

Max Verstappen had a close call during his first stint at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, with his Mercedes-AMG briefly taking flight at the Pflanzgarten section. The four-time F1 champion grazed the barrier but shrugged off the incident, calling it 'a little moment.' He went on to build a 25-second lead before pitting.

Why it matters:

The near miss highlights the unpredictable nature of endurance racing, even for a top F1 driver. Verstappen's ability to stay composed under extreme pressure underscores his adaptability across different disciplines, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most versatile drivers in motorsport.

The details:

• The incident occurred when Verstappen trailed the #7 Konrad Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan, turning in too early and running onto the grass at Pflanzgarten.
• The car went airborne and lightly grazed the outside barrier, but Verstappen quickly regained control.
• "You just have to keep yourself together, stay calm, and just focus again," he said after the stint.
• Verstappen took over from co-driver Dani Juncadella just over an hour into the race, and despite the scare, he enjoyed his stint.
• He cleared traffic and capitalized on slippery conditions to build a 25-second lead before pitting, handing the car over for the next driver.
• At the time of publication (with 14 hours to go), the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car was fourth overall, led by the #99 Rowe Racing BMW M4.

What's next:

With many hours remaining, Verstappen's team remains in contention for a podium or win. His early pace suggests the car is competitive, but endurance racing demands consistency and reliability. The four-time F1 champion will likely return for another stint later as the team aims to climb the order.