The Nordschleife stewards have explained the reasoning behind Max Verstappen's team being handed a three-place grid penalty for this evening's four-hour race at the Nordschleife.
Alongside teammate Lucas Auer, Verstappen is competing in this weekend's 24 Hours of Nürburgring Qualifiers.
The event features two four-hour races, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. This evening's will represent Verstappen's first nighttime driving experience at the formidable circuit.
During qualifying ahead of the opening race, Auer made contact with the #941 Porsche, causing it to spin.
Provisionally, Auer and Verstappen had qualified sixth, courtesy of the former, although the three-place grid drop for causing a collision has demoted the #3 Verstappen Racing entry to ninth.
The Nordschleife stewards' statement read: "The driver of car #941 stated that he stayed on the racing line and did not notice the faster approaching car #03.
"Auer indicated that he saw the gap but misjudged the situation. In addition, he apologised to the driver of car #941 immediately after his stint.
"The stewards considered that a penalty of three starting places for the next race in which the car participates is appropriate."
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