Max Verstappen admitted it was a “super difficult” morning at the Nürburgring after narrowly securing a place in the decisive Top Qualifying 3 session for the legendary 24 Hours race.
The Dutch superstar faced a tense battle around the fearsome Nordschleife circuit on Friday morning but ultimately did enough to keep his team in contention for pole position. Driving for Verstappen Racing’s Mercedes-AMG squad, Verstappen delivered a crucial lap in Top Qualifying 2 that secured sixth place and booked the team’s place in the final pole shootout.
Only 12 cars advanced to the decisive TQ3 session, where teams will battle for the prestigious Glickenhaus Trophy, awarded to the fastest car in qualifying. Verstappen’s team earned its opportunity after team-mate Lucas Auer impressed earlier in TQ1 by finishing fifth, before Verstappen completed the job in the second session.
Despite progressing, Verstappen revealed afterwards that the challenge had been far from straightforward, especially given the intensity of the competition around one of motorsport’s most demanding circuits.
“I felt comfortable in the car, but making it into Top Qualifying 3 was always going to be extremely difficult,” Verstappen explained following the session. “The level of competition here is incredibly high because there are so many quick cars capable of fighting near the front.”
The reigning Formula 1 world champion admitted the team had been pushed to the limit to secure a place in the shootout, with his final lap proving decisive.
“We just managed to squeeze through in the end,” he said. “That final lap was enough to get us in, and honestly it was a huge relief. The conditions were dry, which definitely helped, and the car performed well when it mattered most.”
The Nürburgring weekend has already thrown major challenges at drivers, particularly during Thursday’s running when rain, darkness and heavy fog created treacherous conditions around the famous “Green Hell.”
For Verstappen, it marked his first ever experience racing on the Nordschleife in darkness — an experience he described as one of the toughest situations imaginable.
“Yesterday was crazy,” Verstappen admitted. “It was my first time driving here at night, and with the rain and fog it was probably the most difficult introduction possible. Visibility was poor and the conditions kept changing constantly.”
However, the 27-year-old also believes the difficult running may prove valuable ahead of the race itself, giving him critical experience in unpredictable conditions.
“At the same time, it was useful because it gave me a good understanding of what the race could be like,” he continued. “That experience could help us later in the weekend.”
Verstappen also praised the preparation and commitment of the Verstappen Racing crew, expressing confidence that the team has put itself in a strong position to challenge for a major result.
“I honestly think the team has prepared brilliantly,” he said. “Everyone is working incredibly hard, and considering the performances we’ve had in previous races, we’re hopeful we can fight for something special this weekend.”
Attention now turns to Friday afternoon’s decisive pole shootout, where Verstappen Racing team-mate Dani Juncadella will attempt to secure pole position in one of endurance racing’s biggest events.
