Max sets third-fastest time in first qualifying of 24h Nurburgring

Published on 14 May 2026 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen has set the third-fastest time in the first qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring on behalf of Verstappen Racing. The four-time Formula 1 world champion spent a large part of the session behind the wheel. The qualifying session, which Max and the rest of the team view primarily as preparation for the remainder of the weekend, was disrupted by several yellow flags and changing weather conditions.

This year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours has attracted heightened interest from spectators. With 161 participating teams, it marks the largest field the event has seen in 10 years. For the first time in the event’s history, weekend tickets have sold out, and an estimated 300,000 spectators are expected around the circuit. Max will compete in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 prepared by Winward Racing, shared with Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer.

Q1 is the first of multiple qualifying sessions that will determine which teams advance to Top Qualifying later in the weekend. Verstappen’s team competes in the SP9 class for GT3 cars, the fastest category in the field. In total, participants are divided across 23 different classes. The SP9 class, together with the SP11, SP-PRO, SP-X, and AT1S classes, will later battle for pole position during the Top Qualifying sessions. For these top classes, the regular qualifying sessions mainly serve as preparation.

At the start of the first qualifying session, conditions are cloudy with a temperature of 8 degrees Celsius. The track is drying slowly and unevenly, leaving damp patches around the circuit. Max Verstappen is the first driver for Verstappen Racing to head out on track. His opening attempt promotes the team to second place in the standings, but as more cars begin to set representative lap times, the Mercedes gradually slips down the order and falls out of the top ten.

A handful of incidents on track leads to the flying of several yellow flags. Of note is a stranded, smoking Porsche parked next to the track; the driver safely evacuates the car. Moments later, another car collides against the stranded Porsche, which bursts into flames. Both drivers escape the incident unscathed.

Half an hour into the session, Max returns to the pits. After only a short pause he is once again behind the wheel and out on track. Multiple incidents on the circuit hamper drivers’ ability to complete a lap at full speed. Halfway through the session, it’s two Dutchmen at the top of the standings, jockeying for position. Morris Schuring holds the crown momentarily, before having to relinquish it to fellow countryman Nicky Catsburg shortly after. In the meantime, Max sets a 8:47.982 lap, good enough for seventh place. Not long after, he improves to a 8:18.5399, vaulting to the top of the standings.

With just a quarter of an hour to go, Max jumps out of the car and hands the keys to Daniel Juncadella, who shortly afterwards passes the baton to Jules Gournon. Fabian Schiller, a fellow Mercedes-AMG GT3 competitor, manages to improve on Max’s time by about three seconds. Title defender Raffaele Marciello squeezes between the two Mercedes in the standings, demoting Max’s team to third.

In the closing phases of the session, rain, with a side order of spells of hail, starts to sleet onto the track. Most drivers choose not to take unnecessary risks in the worsening conditions and remain in the pits. Max's teammate Lucas Auer still ventures out to reacquaint himself with the track. No one improves on the fastest times, and team Verstappen Racing ultimately finishes the session in third place.

Click here for the results of qualifying 1 for the 24h Nürburgring 2026.

The 54th edition of the 24h Nürburgring starts at 15.00 CEST on Saturday 16 May and finishes 24 hours later on Sunday 17 May. You can watch it live on Viaplay.com or via Red Bull TV and the Red Bull Motorsports YouTube channel.

Schedule 24h Nürburgring, Nordschleife
Thursday 14 May
13.15-15.15 Qualifying 1
20.00-23.30 Qualifying 2

Friday 15 May
10.15-10.45 Top Qualifying 1
11.05-11.35 Top Qualifying 2
12.00-13.05 Qualifying 3
13.35-14.35 Top Qualifying 3

Saturday 16 May
10.00-11.00 Warm-up
14.40-15.00 Formation lap
15.00 Race start

Sunday 17 May
15.00 Race finish