Max Verstappen Secures Dominant NLS2 Victory at Nordschleife as Canceled F1 Rounds Open Door for Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifiers

Max Verstappen secures a dominant NLS2 win at the Nürburgring. With F1 races in April cancelled, the champion now targets the Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifiers.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 2:58 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

Masterful Endurance Performance at the Green Hell

Max Verstappen demonstrated his versatile racing pedigree on Saturday by securing a dominant victory in the NLS2 round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Driving for his own Verstappen Racing team in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo operated by Winward Racing, the Dutchman secured pole position before engaging in a fierce opening-stint battle with the Scherer Sport Audi of Christopher Haase. Despite losing the lead briefly on the opening lap, Verstappen reclaimed the top spot with a daring maneuver on the Döttinger Höhe straight just before the first pit cycle, establishing a rhythm that his teammates would successfully consolidate.

Strategic Advantage Through Forced Formula 1 Break

The timing of Verstappen’s endurance success coincides with a significant shift in the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. The FIA recently announced the cancellation of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, originally scheduled for mid-April, due to the ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East. This unexpected five-week gap in the F1 schedule has provided Verstappen with a rare window of availability. Previously, the Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying races on April 18 and 19 were off-limits due to his commitments in Jeddah, but the driver has now confirmed he is actively looking into participating in those sessions.

Technical Integration with GT3 Specialists

Verstappen’s victory was a collaborative effort alongside factory GT3 drivers Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon. After Verstappen’s opening stint, Juncadella and Gounon maintained a blistering pace, at one point averaging 2.28 seconds per lap faster than their nearest competitors. The team’s Mercedes-AMG eventually crossed the finish line with a gap of 59.524 seconds over the second-placed ROWE Racing BMW. Verstappen returned to the cockpit for the final 45-minute stint, using the clear air to refine his pace and build the necessary experience required for a potential 24-hour endurance attempt later this spring.