Max Verstappen’s AMG GT Squad Secures 4th Place for Nurburgring 24 Hours
The stage is set for one of the most gruelling motorsport events on the calendar. Max Verstappen’s highly anticipated foray into the legendary Nurburgring 24 Hours has already delivered high drama, with his #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 securing fourth place on the grid ahead of tomorrow’s marathon race.
During today’s intense Top Qualifying shootout, the immense pressure of the final flying lap fell to seasoned GT specialist Dani Juncadella. The Spaniard masterfully navigated the notoriously unforgiving 25.3-kilometre Nordschleife circuit, dragging the Verstappen.com Racing entry onto the second row of the grid.
A formidable alliance
Competing in the premier SP9 category, Verstappen has assembled a powerhouse lineup for this year’s assault on the «Green Hell». The four-time Formula 1 world champion is sharing driving duties with Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer. This potent mix of F1 precision and hardcore endurance experience makes the #3 Mercedes a serious contender for outright victory.
The presence of Verstappen has helped draw an estimated 300,000 fans to the Eifel region, resulting in a completely sold-out weekend. Furthermore, the 2026 edition of the race boasts 161 registered cars, marking the largest and most congested field the event has seen in over a decade.
The ultimate endurance test
Juncadella’s blistering pace in qualifying confirms that the Mercedes-AMG has the raw speed to fight at the front. However, survival at the Nurburgring requires far more than just a quick single lap. The quartet will need to manage heavy traffic, monitor tyre degradation and survive the notoriously unpredictable German weather over a full day and night of racing.
Speaking on the team dynamic, Juncadella has praised the mutual learning environment within the garage. While Verstappen brings his razor-sharp instincts and technical feedback, the GT veterans provide invaluable experience regarding the unique demands of multi-class endurance racing.
The talking stops and the racing begins tomorrow, May 16, 2026, with the green flag waving at exactly 14:30 PM CET. With a starting position firmly at the sharp end of the grid, Verstappen and his teammates are perfectly poised to challenge for glory.
