Max Verstappen will launch into his first-ever 24-hour race from a promising fourth place, after teammate Dani Juncadella delivered a 8:12.005 lap in Friday’s Top Qualifying 3 to secure a second-row start for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing.
Pole position went to Luca Engstler in the #84 Lamborghini Red Bull Team ABT, heading a front-row lockout for the Italian marque.
The four-time Formula One world champion shares the team’s blue‑and‑red Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with Juncadella, Lucas Auer, and Jules Gounon, forming one of the most high-profile lineups in the field.
Verstappen himself had been sixth fastest in Top Qualifying 2 earlier on Friday, having already booked his place in the shootout with a third-fastest time in Thursday’s timed session. His presence has triggered unprecedented interest: weekend passes sold out for the first time in the event’s history.
Lamborghini Locks Out the Front Row
Engstler’s pole lap set the tone for the final qualifying session, with teammate Marco Mapelli placing the #130 Lamborghini alongside him. Christopher Haase put his Audi third, just ahead of the Verstappen Racing Mercedes.
Engstler described his approach with characteristic bluntness:
“I think the key was to leave the brain in the garage, and go full send. I was just trying to squeeze every bit out, and in the end, it worked out.”
Thursday’s running delivered a baptism of fire for Verstappen. Heavy rain, darkness, and the Nordschleife’s notorious unpredictability combined to create a brutal first night session for the Dutchman.
“It was my first time driving in the night. It was probably the worst conditions that you could hope for,” Verstappen said. “But it was good for me, for my eyes, to get used to the darkness.
“And it felt right. The car has felt good the whole time we’ve been driving here. We have a lot of competition, which in general is great for everyone. But it’s been fun.”
With temperatures expected to drop to three degrees overnight, the race promises further complexity.
Juncadella, whose lap secured the team’s grid slot, was satisfied with the outcome of a demanding day: “It was a very good day. Ideally, you want to start in the first five positions for the race, and we are P4. You always want to be on pole, but P4 is a great starting position for what is a very long race.”
The team’s approach to setup has been collaborative, as Auer explained: “To be honest, all four, which is difficult but important, as everybody needs to perform. We have no safety cars here, so whatever you lose, you really lose. You cannot gain back just by pure speed. So, I believe we found a very solid base, and everybody is happy with that.”
As he prepares for his first 24-hour endurance race, Verstappen is focused on fundamentals: “Staying out of trouble. You don’t want to pick up any kind of damage early on.
“You want to keep the car in one piece, and also make the difference in the traffic. And then it’s between the drivers, keeping good information in case there is the changing weather. Keeping the car on track, and then trying to maximise the pace from the car.”
