Max Verstappen has spoken out after being stripped of a dramatic race victory at the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, following a post-race disqualification that stunned fans and teams alike.
The Dutch driver, competing under his Verstappen Racing banner, had teamed up with Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry for the second round of the season at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. The trio delivered an impressive performance on track, dominating much of the race and ultimately crossing the finish line over a minute clear of their closest competitors.
However, the celebrations were short-lived. Following routine post-race scrutineering, race officials uncovered a breach of the event’s tyre regulations. It was determined that the team had used seven sets of tyres across qualifying and the race—one more than the maximum of six permitted under the rules. This seemingly small oversight had major consequences, leading to the disqualification of the car and the annulment of their victory.
As a result, the win was officially handed to the Rowe Racing duo of Don Harper and Jordan Pepper, who were promoted to first place after initially finishing second on the road.
In the aftermath of the decision, Verstappen responded with a brief but composed statement via his racing brand’s social media channels. Rather than expressing frustration, the reigning Formula 1 champion struck a measured tone, acknowledging the setback while remaining focused on the positives.
“Tough outcome, but we keep moving,” the statement read. “A lot to take from the weekend and plenty to look forward to.”
The response reflects Verstappen’s typically resilient mindset, as he opted not to dwell publicly on the error that cost his team victory. Despite the disappointment, the performance itself highlighted the pace and competitiveness of the driver lineup, as well as the strength of their GT3 program.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG also addressed the situation, admitting fault and expressing regret over the costly mistake. Stefan Wendl, head of customer racing, described the weekend as unforgettable—though ultimately for the wrong reasons.
“The NLS weekend will remain in our memories for a long time,” Wendl said. “We witnessed pure racing on track, enjoyed an incredible atmosphere, and were initially thrilled with what we believed was a race victory.”
He continued by acknowledging the operational error that led to the disqualification. “The disappointment was even greater when we realised that a mistake had been made behind the scenes earlier in the day. Unfortunately, the organisers had no choice but to disqualify the car.”
The incident serves as a reminder of how even minor regulatory oversights in endurance racing can carry significant consequences. Despite a dominant on-track showing, strict adherence to technical and sporting rules remains essential, and any deviation—intentional or not—can undo hours of hard-fought competition.
For Verstappen and his teammates, the focus will now shift to future races, where they will aim to convert their evident speed into a result that stands. While the disqualification is a setback, their performance at the Nordschleife suggests that more opportunities for success are likely to come.
