ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring 2026: Event Highlights and Rolling Coverage

Keep up to speed and follow ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring 2026 updates as Max Verstappen debuts.

Dutchman Max Verstappen’s car successfully started the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring under co-driver Dani Juncadella at 3pm CEST on Saturday, May 16 from fourth on the grid at the 54th edition as the four-time F1 world champion debuts at one of endurance racing’s most demanding challenges. Latest updates below:

START
– Known for his versatility across different machinery, Verstappen’s car started the 2026 race from P4, after co-driver Juncadella – who started on Saturday – set a lap of 8:12.005 in Top Qualifying 3 on Friday for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing with German Luca Engstler on pole in the #84 Lamborghini Red Bull Team ABT.

PRE-RACE NEWS
– April’s ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring qualifying weekend saw the Mercedes-AMG GT3 break the nine-minute mark in qualifying before Verstappen led the field in the four-hour race that followed for the opening 90 minutes before a splitter issue dropped the team down the order.

– Last month, he also tested himself at Fuji Speedway, where he climbed into a GT500 car in heavy rain for the first time and, on only his second flying lap, beat the lap time of experienced Super GT driver Atsushi Miyake (1:42.290 against 1:44.075).

– Now the four-time F1 world champion battles with a deep field of GT veterans on his 24H Nürburgring debut with Juncadella, Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon in the team’s distinctive blue-and-red Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

– He started out the week by confirming his place with a third-fastest run in Thursday’s timed session as he took to the Nordschleife in the dark for the first time, heavy rain making for treacherous conditions on a circuit already known as the ‘Green Hell’.

– He said: “It was my first time driving in the night. It was probably the worst conditions that you could hope for, but it was good for me, for my eyes, to get used to the darkness. The car has felt good the whole time we’ve been driving here. We have a lot of competition, which in general is great for everyone. But it’s been fun.”

– The 28-year-old then banked sixth fastest in Top Qualifying 2 on Friday as his participation attracted big global exposure – weekend passes selling out for the first time in the event’s history.

– In terms of what he feels he needs to shine on his debut, he revealed: “Staying out of trouble. You don’t want to pick up any kind of damage early on. You want to keep the car in one piece, and also make the difference in the traffic. And then it’s between the drivers, keeping good information in case there is the changing weather. Keeping the car on track, and then trying to maximise the pace.”

– Spanish co-driver Juncadella, 35, added: “It was a very good day. You always want to be on pole, but P4 is a great starting position for what is a very long race.”

– Austrian co-driver Auer, 31, declared: “We have no safety cars here, so whatever you lose, you really lose. You cannot gain back just by pure speed. So, I believe we found a very solid base.”

– Meanwhile polesitter Engstler, 26, admitted: “I think the key was to leave the brain in the garage, and go full send. I was just trying to squeeze every bit out, and in the end, it worked out.”

– The 54th edition of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring started at 15:00 CEST on Saturday May 16. Watch live on Red Bull TV and Verstappen’s onboard view on the Red Bull Motorsports YouTube channel.

Max Verstappen debutta nella 24 Ore del Nürburgring ADAC RAVENOL, partendo dalla quarta posizione dopo l’ottima prestazione del suo compagno di squadra Dani Juncadella in qualifica. La gara è iniziata alle 15:00 CEST di sabato 16 maggio. Quest’anno si celebra la 54ª edizione dell’evento, riconosciuto come una delle gare di durata più impegnative.

Nei giorni precedenti la gara, il team di Verstappen ha dovuto affrontare delle difficoltà durante il weekend di qualifica: la vettura è riuscita a scendere sotto i nove minuti, ma ha poi subito un contrattempo in una gara precedente a causa di un problema meccanico. Verstappen ha anche effettuato dei test al Fuji Speedway in condizioni difficili, superando un pilota esperto. Questo impegno ha attirato molta attenzione, tanto che l’evento ha registrato il tutto esaurito per la prima volta nella sua storia.

Verstappen ha sottolineato l’importanza di evitare problemi durante la gara, concentrandosi sul mantenimento della vettura in buone condizioni e sulla gestione del traffico. Ha inoltre menzionato la necessità di adattarsi alle condizioni meteorologiche variabili e di massimizzare il ritmo. Anche i suoi compagni di squadra, Juncadella e Lucas Auer, hanno condiviso le loro considerazioni, sottolineando la necessità di una solida strategia di gara, poiché recuperare il tempo perso è difficile in questo formato senza safety car.

Engstler, partito dalla pole position, ha evidenziato come il suo approccio di guida aggressivo sia stato fondamentale per il suo successo. La gara si preannuncia molto combattuta, con un gruppo di veterani GT di grande talento. I fan possono seguire la diretta su Red Bull TV e vedere il punto di vista di Verstappen sul canale YouTube di Red Bull Motorsports.