Max Verstappen's #3 Mercedes has lost the lead at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, after an issue struck team-mate Dani Juncadella just two laps after taking the car back from the Dutchman.
Currently in the garage, the car is on jacks and is being investigated with the team, with the area of focus being the rear right-hand corner, potentially the suspension or a driveshaft problem.
Juncadella, still in the cockpit, was seen with his head in his hands, as the entry tumbles down the order.
Having held the advantage throughout the night, Verstappen has pushed the gap to over 30 seconds when he came in to end his double stint at the wheel with just under four hours on the clock.
Maro Engels, in the sister #80 car, assumed the lead, which stands at over five minutes to the now second-place #84 Lamborghini with 134 laps completed.
Winward Racing team boss Steve Buschmann has explained the root of the issue, but the plan is for the #3 to return to the race.
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..











Join the conversation!