Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Max Verstappen was stripped of victory in the NLS2 race at the Nordschleife after he and his Mercedes-AMG GT3 team were disqualified for breaching tyre usage regulations in the four-hour endurance event.
Verstappen delivered a dominant performance across the weekend, securing pole position by over two seconds before completing both the opening and final stints of the race. During the early phase, he briefly lost the lead before reclaiming it following an intense battle with the #16 Audi, just prior to the first round of pit stops.
Following the initial driver change, the race became more controlled for Verstappen’s team. Consistent pace and clean execution allowed them to build a commanding advantage, ultimately crossing the finish line 59 seconds ahead of their closest rival. The result initially marked Verstappen’s second consecutive GT3 victory at the Nordschleife.
However, post-race scrutineering revealed a breach of the tyre regulations. The team was found to have used seven sets of tyres across qualifying and the race, exceeding the permitted maximum of six sets under NLS rules.
Disqualification was issued as the standard penalty and was accepted by the team without appeal. The error was not attributed to the drivers, but rather to an operational mistake within the garage.
Team principal Christian Hohenadel explained that a flaw in internal procedures led to the incorrect number of tyre sets being used. The mistake occurred during qualifying, where multiple driver changes and tyre swaps took place within a short timeframe.
The breach was identified through the technical commission’s official “Tyre App,” which recorded the use of seven sets instead of six, automatically triggering the disqualification under the regulations.
The incident highlights the critical importance of operational precision in endurance racing, where regulatory compliance in areas such as tyre allocation is strictly enforced. As a result, Verstappen’s apparent victory at the Nordschleife does not stand in the official results, and the team is expected to conduct a full internal review ahead of the next round.
Photo Gallery
Read Also
Max Verstappen prepares for NLS2 Nürburgring 2026 with Verstappen Racing, as team tests at Zandvoort without his participation.
Max Verstappen competes in Nürburgring NLS 2026 with a Mercedes GT3, here is the full schedule for qualifying and race sessions.
The official entry list for the 2026 Daytona 24 Hours features 60 cars across GTP, LMP2, GTD Pro, and GTD classes at Daytona.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!