Red Bull’s Max Verstappen saw his first‑ever Nürburgring 24‑Hour race end in disappointment when a driveshaft failure on the Mercedes‑AMG GT3 forced his car into the garage with three hours and 20 minutes remaining. The problem erased a commanding lead that Verstappen, Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Lucas Auer had built over the weekend, and the team spent the rest of the event repairing severe vibration damage before limping back for a final lap.
Verstappen praised the endurance format, noting the “super challenging” track and the appeal of sharing the effort with teammates. He highlighted his cautious approach during the daylight stint, keeping the car on pace while avoiding trouble. The race featured 161 entries across 23 classes, with the top GT3 tier showcasing the fastest machines, including Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari and Lamborghini. Fellow GT3 drivers lauded Verstappen’s ability to navigate traffic, and his aggressive overtakes on Saturday afternoon kept his team in contention until the mechanical issue struck.
Looking ahead, Verstappen confirmed he will try to return to the Nürburgring next year, subject to his Formula 1 schedule. He now turns his focus to the Canadian Grand Prix sprint weekend, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
