The legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours is finally set to roar into action, with four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen preparing for one of the biggest endurance challenges of his career around the fearsome Nordschleife.
Anticipation has been building throughout the week ahead of the iconic 24-hour spectacle, and Verstappen’s team has already shown impressive pace during qualifying. The Dutch superstar will line up fourth on the grid after a dramatic Friday session that saw the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry narrowly miss out on pole position.
Verstappen and his team-mates — Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer — delivered a strong performance in qualifying, but ultimately fell just eight-tenths short of the fastest time. Ironically, the quickest lap that denied them pole came from Verstappen’s own team-mate, Juncadella, underlining the remarkable competitiveness throughout the field.
Securing pole position for the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours is the #84 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini crew. The front-row starters feature an elite driver line-up of Luca Engstler, Mirko Bortolotti and Patric Niederhauser aboard the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2. Alongside them on the grid sits the sister #130 Red Bull Team ABT entry, creating a dominant front-row lockout for Lamborghini heading into the race.
The second row also promises fireworks. The #16 Scherer Sport PHX BMW M4 GT3 EVO will start third, with drivers Christopher Haase, Alexander Sims and Ben Green hoping to challenge for overall victory from the opening laps. Directly behind them is Verstappen’s #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3, which many fans believe could become one of the major contenders once the gruelling endurance race settles into rhythm.
Despite missing pole, Verstappen’s squad remains firmly in the hunt. The Nürburgring Nordschleife — famously nicknamed the “Green Hell” — is notorious for unpredictability, changing weather and relentless traffic management, meaning grid position is only one small piece of the puzzle in a 24-hour battle.
The race itself is scheduled to begin at 15:00 local time, with more than 160 entries set to tackle one of motorsport’s toughest events. However, much of the spotlight will naturally focus on the leading SP9 GT3 category, where several factory-supported teams are expected to fight for overall honours.
Behind the top four starters sits the #45 REALIZE KONDO RACING Ferrari 296 GT3 in fifth position. The Ferrari squad includes Jordan Pepper, David Perel and talented young driver Thierry Vermeulen, who has continued attracting attention with strong GT performances.
Lamborghini’s presence near the front remains particularly strong, with the #7 Franz Konrad Huracan GT3 also qualifying inside the top six. Meanwhile, Ford’s GT3 programme enjoyed an encouraging session, placing the #64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang GT3 seventh on the grid.
Porsche powerhouse Manthey Racing begins eighth with its famous #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R, while BMW teams ROWE Racing and Schubert Motorsport are also positioned within the leading pack as they target victory in the endurance classic.
Several Mercedes-AMG entries also remain within striking distance. Alongside Verstappen’s #3 machine, both KCMG and PROsport Racing secured competitive starting positions inside the top 15, ensuring Mercedes will have multiple bullets in the fight for victory.
Elsewhere, Aston Martin’s Walkenhorst Motorsport entry lines up 11th, while Audi representation comes from Max Kruse Racing in 16th position with its Audi R8 LMS GT3.
In total, 161 cars will take the start across multiple classes, creating the traditional chaos and excitement that has made the Nürburgring 24 Hours one of the most beloved endurance races in the world.
Yet all eyes will undoubtedly remain fixed on Verstappen. Already regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of his generation, the Dutchman now has an opportunity to add another remarkable chapter to his racing career by conquering the Nordschleife in one of endurance racing’s ultimate tests.
