F1 Today | Verstappen stripped of Nordschleife win in dramatic disqualification

Verstappen converted pole into an early advantage, controlling the run to the first corner and settling into the lead as the field filtered through the opening sector.

That advantage proved short-lived, however, with Haase able to capitalise on the Audi’s straight-line speed to move ahead, forcing Verstappen into a chasing role despite the Mercedes showing stronger pace in the twisty sections of the Nordschleife.

The race began to swing back in Verstappen’s favour during the first pit window, where he timed his move to perfection, reclaiming track position before handing over the car at the front of the field.

From that point on, the #3 entry never truly looked under threat. Juncadella controlled the middle phase with a measured stint, before Gounon continued the job, keeping the gap stable and the pressure from behind at bay. With the groundwork already laid, Verstappen returned for the closing stages with a healthy margin, managing the final stint cleanly and bringing the car home to secure a convincing victory for the team.

Just hours after the chequered flag, Max Verstappen’s result was overturned, with his team disqualified from NLS2 and the Dutchman consequently losing the victory.

The sanction stemmed from a breach of the tyre regulations, as Winward Racing — the outfit Verstappen raced with in the Mercedes AMG GT3 — exceeded the permitted allocation over the course of the event.

The team used seven sets of tyres, going beyond the limit of six allowed by the rules, which led to the disqualification.

With Formula 1 set to pause after Suzuka, Verstappen was quizzed on a potential return to the Nürburgring in the coming weeks, but stopped short of giving a firm answer, leaving the door open while pointing out that any decision will hinge on logistical feasibility, all while underlining how much he enjoys racing there.

Attention now turns to April 11, when the German endurance championship resumes with NLS3 – the 57th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, a four-hour contest around the Nordschleife.

The event had initially been set to clash with the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, originally pencilled in for April 10-12, but both that race and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix have been shelved for now due to the escalating situation in the Middle East.