Max Verstappen contests the 24 Hours of Nürburgring this weekend, returning to the Nordschleife with eye-catching GT3 pace but recent setbacks, amid a deep, factory-backed SP9 field.

His GT3 debut yielded victory with Chris Lulham. A second win followed, then a disqualification for improper tyre usage, underlining the discipline required by Nürburgring regulations.

In qualifying races, Verstappen led the opening stint, before technical problems forced retirement for him and Lucas Auer. The raw pace is clear; durability and fault-free execution remain essential.

The SP9 class again defines the event. Forty entries, heavy traffic, variable weather, and long Code 60 phases reward disciplined strategy as much as outright speed.

#16 Scherer Sport PHX fronts the Audi challenge. Christopher Haase is a perennial Nordschleife benchmark, supported by Alexander Sims and Ben Green, combining proven endurance nous with recent Nürburgring form.

Sims won the 2020 Nürburgring 24 Hours and is a two-time IMSA SportsCar class champion. Green adds class wins and NLS victories, giving the line-up balanced pace and consistency.

ROWE Racing’s #1 returns as defending champion. Last year it climbed from 17th on the grid to win by over a minute, reflecting relentless stint averages and slick pit execution.

Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, Jordan Pepper, and Kelvin van der Linde headline #1. Farfus owns two wins, Marciello brings factory firepower, and Van der Linde is already a three-time victor.

ROWE’s #99 is equally dangerous with Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, and Dan Harper. Momentum is strong after winning the 6 Hours of Imola earlier this season.

Harper, with Max Hesse, also took Nürburgring pole two years ago. That underlines single-lap potential supporting sustainable race pace, a potent combination against traffic and changing track states.

Red Bull Team ABT fields #84 and #130. The #84 crew of Luca Engstler, Mirko Bortolotti, and Patric Niederhauser qualified second, indicating outright pace and a platform comfortable across longer runs.

#130 pairs Nicky Catsburg with Nick Yelloly. Catsburg owns two Nürburgring victories; Yelloly won LMP2 at Le Mans last year and shared the 2023 Nürburgring win with Catsburg.

Manthey’s #911 finished second last year and held 2025 pole. Porsche remains a force with 13 overall wins, last in 2021, plus Kevin Estre, Ayhancan Güven, and Thomas Preining.

Estre is the 2024 WEC hypercar champion. Güven and Preining arrive as recent DTM title winners, reinforcing Manthey’s depth in mixed-conditions racecraft and traffic management.

For Verstappen, the path is clear. Convert speed into error-free stints, manage traffic and Code 60s, and protect tyres and hardware over 24 hours against heavyweight, multi-car opposition.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.