– Formula 1 star Max Verstappen experienced a weekend on the Nürburgring Nordschleife that could hardly have been more intense. Only a few hours separated spectacular duels, tragic news, and an unexpected defect.
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The Dutchman used the break in the racing calendar to gain further experience in a GT3 car at the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers. But the planned learning weekend turned into an emotional rollercoaster.
Saturday already unfolded differently than expected. After a solid qualifying session, which initially secured sixth place on the grid, Verstappen and teammate Lucas Auer were moved back three positions. Auer, Gerhard Berger’s nephew, had collided with another car.
However, Verstappen did not even get to race in the first event. After only about 25 minutes, the race was stopped due to a serious accident. Later, the sad certainty followed: the 66-year-old driver Juha Miettinen succumbed to his injuries.
Shock after fatal accident
“I am shocked by what happened today,” Verstappen wrote on Instagram in the evening. “Motorsport is something we all love, but in moments like these, we realize how dangerous it is.”
On Sunday, the sport was back in focus – accompanied by a minute of silence before the start. Verstappen took the start in the second race and immediately caused a stir. From fifth position, he quickly worked his way forward with determined maneuvers and soon after engaged in an intense duel with Audi driver Christopher Haase.
Just a few weeks prior, both had delivered a thrilling duel at the season opener of the Nürburgring Endurance Series – on Sunday, it continued seamlessly on the Nordschleife.
In the fourth lap, Verstappen prevailed in the fast Schwedenkreuz section and took the lead. But Haase stayed close. On the Döttinger Höhe, there were several direct slipstream duels – including slight touches. Despite the pressure, Verstappen defended his position – hard, but fair. “Very respectful, great driving,” Haase said later. “He always positioned himself perfectly.”
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Lead – and then the sudden setback
However, the potential success story soon turned into a mystery. After the first pit stop, Verstappen was still in the lead, before he suddenly headed for the pits again – much earlier than planned. It quickly became clear: there was a problem.
“In the second lap of my second stint, I noticed something was wrong because the front splitter was broken,” Verstappen reported afterwards. “It’s strange because I didn’t touch anyone.
The team repaired the damage, but lost more than 20 minutes in the process. The race was thus sportingly over. In the end, Verstappen and Auer finished only 38th with several laps down.
Learned a lot – one crucial point is still missing
Despite this sportingly disappointing result, Verstappen drew a positive conclusion. “I had fun and the car felt good, so I’m happy with that. I also completed my stints, even in heavy traffic, which was quite intense,” he says.
“I had battles with other GT3 cars, so that was good preparation for the 24-hour race. I’m as ready as one can be. The only thing I haven’t done yet is driving in the dark,” Verstappen concluded.
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He wants to make up for this experience at the 24-hour race. Before that, however, another task awaits: the Miami Grand Prix in Formula 1.
