LIVE | Verstappen tries to secure TQ3 spot for 24h Nurburgring in Top Qualifying

Verstappen returned to the Nordschleife this weekend after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was cancelled due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

This weekend, he is joined only by Lucas Auer, as Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon are in Imola taking part in the opening round of the 2026 World Endurance Championship campaign.

This weekend, the ADAC 24h Nurburgring Qualifiers are taking place at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the so-called ‘Green Hell’. Alongside two races (NLS4 and NLS5), Top Qualifying also takes place this Sunday for the 24h Nurburgring.

Verstappen’s team can already secure a place in TQ3 of the 24-hour event through Top Qualifying.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion originally finished sixth in qualifying for NLS4 but started the race from P9 after an incident involving Auer led to a three-place grid penalty for the #3 car.

In NLS4, only Auer was in action after a red flag brought the race to a halt around 25 minutes into the session because of a serious incident. The driver of car #121, Juha Miettinen, has passed away. A minute of silence will be held in his honour today.