Nürburgring – With just under three hours remaining in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, disaster has struck for Max Verstappen and the Winward Racing #3 crew. After dominating large parts of the race and looking firmly on course for a historic debut victory, teammate Dani Juncadella was forced to bring the Mercedes‑AMG GT3 into the pit box with a broken driveshaft.
The team immediately realised the severity of the issue, pushing the car deep into the garage for repairs. What had been a near‑perfect run unravelled in seconds, ending any realistic chance of fighting for the win.
A heartbreaking twist in a race they had controlled for hours. For much of the race, Verstappen and the #3 Winward Mercedes had been the benchmark, leading for hours and looking set for a sensational debut victory. But with just under three hours to go, a broken driveshaft ended their charge and shifted the spotlight entirely to the #80 car.
Joy for Winward, frustration for Verstappen
The celebrations in the Winward garage were huge, but the contrast with Verstappen’s disappointment was clear. The Formula 1 champion had dominated large parts of the race and was on course for a historic win on his Nürburgring 24H debut. Instead, he watched from the pits as his teammates brought home the victory he had helped build.
It’s a reminder of what makes the Nordschleife so unforgiving: in a 24‑hour race, nothing is guaranteed, and surprises can strike at any moment.
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