Mercedes-AMG Motorsport has issued an official response after a dramatic twist saw Max Verstappen and his team-mates stripped of a dominant victory at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The disqualification came hours after what initially appeared to be a commanding performance in the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS2). Verstappen, alongside Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, had crossed the finish line nearly a minute clear of the competition, capping off an impressive showing in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 machine.
However, the celebrations proved short-lived.
Following the conclusion of the four-hour endurance race, officials conducted routine post-race scrutineering — a standard procedure in endurance racing to ensure all teams comply with technical and sporting regulations. During these checks, it was discovered that the Mercedes entry had exceeded the maximum number of tyre sets allowed for the race.
According to the regulations governing the event, each car is permitted to use no more than six sets of tyres throughout the race. However, it was confirmed that the Verstappen-led crew had used a total of seven sets, placing them in clear violation of the rules.
As a result, race stewards made the decision to disqualify the car from the final classification, nullifying what had been a dominant and well-executed victory on track.
In the aftermath of the ruling, Mercedes released a statement acknowledging the breach. The team admitted that an error had been made in managing tyre allocation during the race, which ultimately led to the infringement. While not disputing the stewards’ findings, the statement expressed disappointment over the outcome, particularly given the strong performance delivered by all three drivers.
Mercedes emphasized that the mistake was not related to gaining a deliberate competitive advantage, but rather a miscalculation or oversight under the demanding conditions of endurance racing. The team also reiterated its commitment to learning from the incident and improving internal processes to prevent a similar situation in the future.
For Verstappen, the disqualification adds a frustrating chapter to what had otherwise been an exciting outing away from Formula 1. The four-time world champion has increasingly explored GT and endurance racing, showcasing his versatility across different disciplines of motorsport. His performance at the Nordschleife — often regarded as one of the most challenging circuits in the world — had further underlined his adaptability and skill.
Despite the setback, the performance itself will not go unnoticed. Verstappen and his team-mates had demonstrated exceptional pace, consistency, and race management throughout the event, building a commanding lead long before the post-race controversy unfolded.
The incident also serves as a reminder of how strict and unforgiving endurance racing regulations can be. Even minor infractions — whether intentional or accidental — can carry significant consequences, including the loss of a race win.
While the official result now tells a different story, the on-track display from the Mercedes trio remains a strong statement of intent. Nevertheless, the focus will now shift to ensuring such operational errors are avoided moving forward, as both team and drivers look to bounce back from a costly mistake.
