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Max Verstappen's bid to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours on his first attempt ended in disappointment after a late mechanical failure halted his team's charge while they were leading the race comfortably.
The Dutch Formula 1 world champion was sharing driving duties with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella in a Mercedes AMG GT3. With just over three hours remaining, the quartet held a lead of around 30 seconds and looked set to control the closing stages. However, a broken driveshaft forced the car off the track and brought their victory hopes to an abrupt end.
Although the issue was eventually repaired, the delay proved too costly and removed them from contention for the win.
Speaking after his stint, Verstappen reflected on the experience and said he had enjoyed his time in the car despite the setback. He explained that driving in daylight conditions required focus and caution while still maintaining strong pace, adding that the car had performed well up to that point. He also described endurance racing as extremely demanding, particularly at a 24-hour event held on the Nürburgring circuit.
When asked about a possible return to the race, Verstappen said he would like to compete again but noted that it would depend on his Formula 1 schedule. The Red Bull driver remains under contract until 2028 and continues to balance his F1 commitments with occasional endurance racing appearances.
The Nürburgring event took place between Formula 1 rounds in Miami and Canada and featured more than 160 entries across multiple classes. Verstappen's participation attracted significant attention, with organisers reporting record ticket demand and attendance levels not seen before at the event.
While Verstappen's team was forced out of the fight for victory, the race was ultimately won by Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller and Maxime Martin in a Mercedes entry.
Despite the setback, Verstappen's appearance was widely seen as a major boost for the event and highlighted his interest in endurance racing alongside his Formula 1 career. He will now return to F1 action at the Canadian Grand Prix next weekend.
