Winward Racing Issues Formal Apology as Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring Victory Is Stripped Over Tire Infringement

Winward Racing expresses "hurt" after Max Verstappen's Nürburgring win was stripped over a tire error. Read the full apology and team reaction.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 10:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

A Costly Oversight in the Team Garage

The "joy of victory" for Team Verstappen Racing was short-lived following the first round of the 2026 Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). While Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, and Jules Gounon delivered a masterclass on the Nordschleife—securing pole position by 1.9 seconds and winning the four-hour endurance race by nearly a minute—the result was overturned by race control. The disqualification centered on a breach of NLS technical regulations regarding tire usage. Specifically, the team utilized seven sets of tires throughout the event, exceeding the permitted maximum of six. Winward Racing, the Mercedes-AMG customer outfit managing the entry, confirmed that the error occurred during a high-pressure qualifying session.

Winward Racing Takes Full Responsibility

Christian Hohenadel, Team Principal of Winward Racing, issued a candid apology to the 178,000 fans and supporters following the retroactive exclusion of the Mercedes-AMG GT3. Hohenadel admitted that the disqualification "hurts" and took full accountability for the internal mistake. According to the team, the error was rooted in the practice of multiple driver and tire changes during the morning sessions, which led to an incorrect tally of the sets used. This was Winward’s debut outing as a Mercedes-AMG Performance team on the Nordschleife, and the administrative lapse has overshadowed what was otherwise a flawless tactical performance on the track.

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Reacts

The disappointment was echoed by Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, who described the season opener as an unforgettable weekend for the wrong reasons. Wendl noted that while the racing and atmosphere were incredible, the "mixed start" to the 2026 season serves as a harsh reminder that every detail must align on the Nordschleife. The technical commission discovered the infringement during routine post-race checks, leading to the immediate removal of Verstappen’s car from the classification. Wendl emphasized that the focus has now shifted to a thorough analysis of the team’s protocols to ensure such a "behind-the-scenes mistake" does not recur.