Verstappen Racing hit by shock failure as Nürburgring lead slips away

The team, which had been firmly in control with a lead of over 33 seconds following a double stint from Max Verstappen, was forced into the pits shortly after Dani Juncadella took over the wheel.

The Spaniard had initially continued at racing pace, but his stint was abruptly cut short as the car was brought in. The Winward Racing-run outfit later confirmed a driveshaft issue on the #3 machine.

While the pit crew continues to work on the car, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to rejoin the race. In the meantime, the #80 Mercedes has moved into the lead, with Mario Engel ahead of the Lamborghini Huracán of Engstler and de Philippe in the BMW M4 GT3.

Earlier Lucas Auer shared his thoughts after completing a double morning stint for Verstappen Racing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The Austrian driver, who took over from Jules Gounon shortly after sunrise, delivered two clean stints to keep the team firmly in control at the front. Auer maintained a lead of around five seconds before handing the car over to Verstappen. The 31-year-old reflected positively on his time behind the wheel at the demanding Nordschleife.

Speaking to the media after stepping out of the car, Auer praised the consistency of his run, while stressing his focus on staying out of trouble in tricky conditions, with the weather still a key factor.

“So the second double stint for me was actually quite clean, quite good. I tried to keep it safe, but overall it was all good, and the track is also in good condition. So let's see what the weather does now,” he said.