Max Verstappen will face the most demanding qualifying route at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours after missing out on exemption access to the final Top Qualifying sessions. The Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver and his Winward Racing team must now begin the entire qualification process from the opening stages at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The failure to secure direct progression toward Top Qualifying 3 was influenced by two major setbacks. Verstappen’s team suffered a disqualification during the NLS2 event, while technical issues during last month’s second qualifying race prevented them from earning the exemption granted to several rival teams.
Despite the setback, Verstappen’s chances of securing pole position remain alive. However, the Dutchman must now navigate a significantly more complicated qualification structure compared to Formula 1. The Nürburgring 24 Hours uses six separate sessions with an elimination-based system specifically designed for elite categories such as SP9.
One driver already guaranteed direct access to the final session is Verstappen protégé Thierry Vermeulen. He secured pole position during the second qualifying event last month, automatically earning his place in Top Qualifying 3.
Within the Nürburgring 24 Hours structure, the SP9, SP-PRO, SP-X, and AT1 categories only begin genuine qualifying competition on Friday. The earlier Q1, Q2, and Q3 sessions mainly function as practice and validation runs for the leading classes. While lap times are officially recorded, those sessions do not determine the main starting positions for elite teams.
There is, however, one crucial regulation all drivers must complete, including Verstappen. Every competitor is required to complete at least one lap during the night-time Q2 session held in darkness around the Eifel region. Failure to participate automatically results in exclusion from the race.
| Session | Number of Teams | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 161 | Initial practice session for Top Qualifying teams |
| Q2 | 161 | Mandatory night session for all drivers |
| Q3 | 161 | Determines grid positions P50–P161 |
| TQ1 | 44 | Top 20 advance to TQ2 |
| TQ2 | 20 | Top 7 advance to TQ3 |
| TQ3 | 12 | Final battle for overall pole position |
The Top Qualifying format itself closely resembles Formula 1-style elimination rounds. In TQ1, 44 teams compete for 20 available places in TQ2. Only the seven fastest entries from TQ2 then progress into TQ3, where pole position and the prestigious Glickenhaus Trophy are decided.
For Verstappen, the biggest challenge will not only be outright pace but also traffic management around the Nordschleife’s 25-kilometre layout, where multiple racing classes compete simultaneously. Unlike Formula 1’s uniform field, the Nürburgring 24 Hours requires GT3 drivers to constantly manage large performance differences between classes throughout every session.
Verstappen’s Nürburgring programme also represents another major step in his growing commitment to endurance racing. Over recent months, he has become increasingly involved in GT projects and has repeatedly been linked with a potential future appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nürburgring now stands as one of the most important tests in his long-term transition toward top-level endurance competition.
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