Max Verstappen must be pleased with his much-anticipated Nurburgring 24 Hours debut, at least so far, as he leads the race after an impressive double stint. The Dutchman took over the wheel for stints two and three after Dani Juncadella started the race for #3 Team Verstappen Racing from fourth on the grid. Despite adverse weather conditions, the four-time F1 champion showed his mettle and completed some near-impossible overtakes.
Several on-track incidents involving GT3 competitors such as the Scherer Sport PHX Audi, KCMG Mercedes-AMG, and Thierry Vermeulen’s Ferrari helped Verstappen move up in the standings. He later eased past the Manthey Porsche, a Haupt Mustang, and the Walkenhorst Aston Martin during the Nurburgring 24H race.
Max Verstappen Faces Heart-Stopping Moment At Nurburgring 24H
At the start of his stint, the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing driver briefly lost control of his car as he drifted to the right. With wheels on the grass, Verstappen had almost hit the barriers but somehow managed to dodge them. Despite the turbulence, he kept looking forward.
Nearly three hours into his stint, Verstappen was in third place but rapidly closing in on the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin and the #67 HRT Ford Racing Ford. In a thrilling move, he swept past both cars one after another to claim the lead at 24H Nurburgring.
Watch the video here:
Verstappen’s ALMOST in the Armco!
📺 https://t.co/nRctemYTnN#IGTC | #24hNBR pic.twitter.com/PxJxmRexkn
— Intercontinental GT Challenge (@IntercontGTC) May 16, 2026
What Did Max Verstappen Say About His Near-Crash Moment?
The F1 legend looked calm when asked about his experience at the Nurburgring 24H. Reflecting on the hair-raising event, Verstappen said, “Yeah, we had a little moment. I think I turned in a bit too early, and then we had a low moment there. But I always find you have to keep yourself together, stay calm, and just focus again.”
