GT3 News: Verstappen cruises to victory at the Nordschleife (Update)
Max Verstappen, Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon have been disqualified from their victory in the opening Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie race of the season after their Winward Racing-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo used too many sets of tires.
The Verstappen Racing entry had finished almost a minute clear of its rivals, having battled the Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II of Christopher Haase in the early stages of the race, to seemingly give four-time Formula 1 champion Verstappen a second NLS win in his second top-class start.
However, approximately two hours after the race’s conclusion, the trio were disqualified having breached the category’s rules concerning tire use.
The German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport explained how the mistake might have happened:
“Anyone familiar with the Nordschleife scene knows that this wasn’t intentional; rather, teams that don’t regularly compete in the Eifel region have often stumbled over the specific rules. This was also the case for Winward Racing, who were making their debut as the Mercedes-AMG Performance Team in the NLS. ‘We will now analyze the day thoroughly, meticulously prepare for the upcoming races, and work with full concentration towards the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring,’ said team principal Christian Hohenadel.”
March 21, 2026
Max Verstappen has once again proven he is a force of nature on any circuit in the world. The four-time Formula 1 World Champion seamlessly translated his blistering F1 dominance to the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, teaming up with AMG factory drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon to storm to overall victory in today’s 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis — Round 2 of the 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).
The trio piloted the #3 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (entered as Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing) to a commanding win in the four-hour endurance classic. After claiming pole with a stunning 7m51.751 lap in qualifying, Verstappen delivered a masterclass that sets a bold new benchmark for the ultra-competitive SP9 Pro class ahead of the team’s full Nürburgring 24 Hours campaign in May.
The race kicked off with a world-class scrap in the opening stint. Verstappen launched brilliantly from pole and held the lead initially, but was immediately challenged by Christopher Haase in the Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. The two GT3 giants traded positions in thrilling fashion through the opening laps, giving fans exactly the spectacle they had hoped for from the “Green Hell.”
But once the first round of pit stops and driver changes arrived, the #3 Mercedes found another gear. Juncadella took over and pounced at Hatzenbach to regain the lead, quickly building a buffer of more than 50 seconds. Gounon maintained the advantage through his stint with clinical precision, and when Verstappen climbed back into the car for the final hour, the result was never in doubt. The Mercedes remained utterly untouchable, crossing the line after 29 laps with a margin of nearly a full minute over its nearest rival.
This was more than just a win — it was a statement. The #3 Winward Mercedes set new standards for reliability, strategy, and outright pace on the 20.8 km Nordschleife, leaving the rest of the SP9 Pro field in its mirrors.
With the victory secured, Verstappen and the Winward Racing crew now turn their attention to even bigger challenges on the Nordschleife. If today was any indication, the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 is going to be the car to beat when the 24 Hours arrive in May.
The Green Hell has a new king — and his name is Max Verstappen. What a way to kick off the 2026 NLS season