Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has received an unexpected boost weeks after competing in the legendary 24 Hours Nürburgring, following the confirmation of a late disqualification that altered the final standings of the endurance classic.
While Verstappen has been focused on his Formula 1 campaign with Red Bull Racing at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, the Dutch star also took part in one of motorsport’s most demanding endurance races last month. The final classification of the Nürburgring event was not officially confirmed until 26 days after the chequered flag, leaving teams and drivers waiting for the definitive outcome.
When the revised results were finally released, Verstappen’s team emerged as one of the beneficiaries of a significant post-race ruling. The number 84 Lamborghini entered by Red Bull Team ABT and driven by Mirko Bortolotti, Luca Engstler, and Patric Niederhauser was officially disqualified from the race results.
The Lamborghini crew had initially crossed the line in second place after a grueling 24-hour battle around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. However, following the disqualification, the team was removed from the final classification entirely, causing all competitors behind them to move up one position in the standings.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours once again lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest endurance races in the world. Teams faced a relentless challenge throughout the event, with changing weather conditions, mechanical failures, and intense competition taking a heavy toll on the field. Several leading contenders in the highly competitive SP9 category for GT3 machinery suffered setbacks that ended their hopes of victory long before the finish.
As the race unfolded, the entries from Winward Racing appeared to be in a commanding position. The Mercedes-AMG squad had established a healthy advantage over the rest of the field with more than 18 hours still remaining in the race. Their pace and consistency suggested they were firmly on course for a strong result.
However, endurance racing often produces dramatic twists, and the complexion of the race changed when their last major challenger lost crucial time after switching to wet-weather tyres. The strategic decision resulted in a lap deficit that effectively ended any realistic chance of mounting a late challenge for victory.
In the end, the number 80 Ravenol Mercedes-AMG crew of Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz emerged victorious, securing a memorable win after surviving the race’s numerous challenges.
Behind them, the Walkenhorst Aston Martin driven by Mattia Drudi, Christian Krognes, and Nicki Thiim was elevated in the final standings following the Lamborghini’s removal from the results.
Verstappen’s own challenge for victory ended in heartbreaking fashion. The number 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG, shared by Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Verstappen, had been running competitively before suffering a major mechanical failure. With only three hours remaining, a broken driveshaft forced the car out of contention and dashed hopes of a strong finish.
Despite that disappointment, the late disqualification of the Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini means Verstappen’s team ultimately gains a place in the finalized classification. Although it does not erase the frustration of retiring from the race, the revised results provide a small consolation after one of the most dramatic editions of the Nürburgring 24 Hours in recent memory.
The final confirmation of the standings brings an end to nearly a month of uncertainty and officially closes the chapter on a race that delivered endurance, drama, and controversy right up to the final verdict.
