Max Verstappen’s first taste of the Nurburgring 24 Hours ended in frustration Saturday night when a driveshaft failure derailed a commanding lead with just hours left. The three-time Formula 1 champion and his teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Lucas Auer had dominated much of the 24-hour endurance race in their Mercedes-AMG GT3. But with three hours and 20 minutes on the clock, vibrations from the failing driveshaft forced the team to limp back to the garage for emergency repairs. They barely managed to get the car running again before the final lap, salvaging an official finish but losing any chance of victory. The sister Mercedes-AMG GT3, #80, went on to win, finishing nearly 10 minutes ahead of the second-place car after 15.769-mile laps around the Nurburgring’s treacherous 20.8-kilometre Nordschleife section. Verstappen had been instrumental in the early going, making bold overtakes in his first stint Saturday afternoon to help his team take the lead before night fell. Through the darkness and into Sunday morning, his team held off a spirited challenge from the #80 car, trading positions multiple times in a race that’s as much about strategy as outright speed. The Nurburgring 24 Hours is one of the toughest endurance events in motorsport, often called “The Green Hell” by drivers including three-time F1 world champion Jackie Stewart. This year’s event attracted 161 cars across 23 different classes, with the top class featuring the fastest GT3 machinery from Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, and Lamborghini. Verstappen, who’s already dominated Formula 1, has been looking for new challenges outside the series. He’s previously talked about his ambition to race at the Le Mans 24 Hours, another iconic endurance event. “I like the competition and the endurance style racing where you share with teammates,” Verstappen said after the race. “The 24-hour race here, the track is super challenging, so the whole combination I enjoy.” He didn’t rule out returning next year, though he acknowledged his busy F1 schedule will dictate his plans. “I will for sure try,” he said. “It always depends a bit on my schedule.” The driveshaft failure wasn’t the only mechanical drama in the race. The Nurburgring’s relentless demands forced multiple retirements and late-night repairs across the field, highlighting the brutal reliability challenges even for top-tier GT3 teams. Verstappen’s team managed to limp across the line in 21st place after completing 146 laps, a distant result compared to the leaders but still a testament to their perseverance. For Verstappen, the experience likely stoked his appetite for more endurance racing, even if it means more long nights in the pits.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Sky Sports
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 14:05 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #sky-sports · #football · #premier-league · #verstappen · #nurburgring · #max-verstappen

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O sonho de Max Verstappen de brilhar nas 24 Horas de Nürburgring, uma das provas de resistência mais duras do automobilismo mundial, foi interrompido por uma falha mecânica que jogou por água abaixo meses de preparação. O tricampeão da Fórmula 1 abandonou a prova na madrugada de domingo após detectar um problema na transmissão do seu carro da equipe Manthey-Porsche, deixando torcedores brasileiros e amantes do esporte a ver navios em mais uma chance de ver o holandês em ação fora das pistas de F1.

Apesar do revés, a participação de Verstappen no endurance alemão já entrou para a história como um marco, mesmo que breve. O Brasil, que tem uma relação apaixonada por corridas de longa duração — desde as 500 Milhas de Indianápolis até as provas de turismo nacional —, viu no caso uma oportunidade de discutir como as estrelas da velocidade podem impactar outras categorias. A falha técnica, no entanto, levantou questionamentos sobre a preparação de pilotos acostumados ao curto prazo das corridas de F1 para os desafios de uma prova de 24 horas, onde resistência e estratégia são tão importantes quanto a potência do carro. Além disso, o episódio reforçou o fascínio dos brasileiros por Verstappen, que mesmo em um fim de semana frustrante, manteve a admiração de milhões que o seguem como um ídolo global.

Agora, a pergunta que fica é: Verstappen vai se aventurar novamente em uma prova de endurance, ou o foco seguirá apenas na Fórmula 1?