Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen was stripped of his Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie win after exceeding tire limits. Read the full story now.
Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, alongside teammates Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, originally crossed the line first in the Nürburgring Langstrecken‑Serie (NLS) endurance race, driving a Mercedes‑AMG GT3.
Why the win was revoked
Post‑race scrutineering revealed that Verstappen’s crew had used seven sets of tires during the event—including qualifying—while the regulations allow a maximum of six. The excess set breached the series’ tire‑allocation rule, forcing officials to disqualify the Mercedes‑AMG GT3 from the final classification.
Team’s response
Winward Racing team manager Christian Hohenadel took responsibility, saying, “It’s really painful. I want to apologise to everyone who supported us.” Mercedes‑AMG later clarified that the infraction occurred during the morning qualifying session, not the race itself, and was the result of an internal procedural error while swapping drivers and tires.
Impact on Verstappen’s schedule
The NLS round was meant to be a warm‑up for Verstappen’s anticipated debut at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in July 2026. Despite the setback, he remains eligible for the remaining NLS events. The disqualification comes as the Formula 1 calendar for April faces potential disruption due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Who inherited the victory?
Rowe Racing’s Jordan Pepper and Dan Harper were declared the winners, piloting a BMW M4 GT3 Evo. Verstappen’s early 2026 Formula 1 campaign has also been uneven, with a sixth‑place finish at the Australian Grand Prix and a DNF in China.
Stay tuned for updates on Verstappen’s endurance ambitions and the evolving F1 schedule.