Mercedes has issued a statement on Max Verstappen’s disqualification from Saturday’s NLS2 at the Nurburgring, revealing the tyre error occurred in qualifying.
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen made his second GT3 appearance at the Nurburgring this weekend, following a winning debut in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) last year in a Ferrari.
As part of a push to ensure Verstappen makes his debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, NLS organisers, prompted by Mercedes and Toto Wolff, altered its schedule around the F1 calendar.
This allowed Verstappen to enter NLS2 this weekend in a Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 car alongside experienced sportscar drivers Joules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella.
Qualifying on pole for Saturday’s four-hour race, Verstappen led across the first stint before handing the car over to his team-mates.
The Dutchman jumped back into the car for the final stint, with Verstappen getting to the chequered flag almost a minute clear of the field for a second victory in the NLS and his first in a Mercedes.
However, hours later, the No.3 entry was disqualified from the result due to a tyre error, after it was found to have used seven sets instead of the six permitted by the rules.
Mercedes opens up on “disappointment” of Verstappen disqualification
In an official statement from Mercedes’ head of customer racing, Stefan Wendl, he clarified that the tyre error occurred in qualifying.
“A mixed start to the 2026 Nurburgring season: we crossed the finish line first, but were subsequently disqualified,” he said.
“During routine checks by the technical commission, it was found that the team used seven sets of tyres on race day instead of the permitted six.
“The error occurred during qualifying, when multiple driver and tyre changes were practised.
“An NLS weekend we won’t forget anytime soon: great racing, incredible atmosphere, and initially the joy of victory.
“The disappointment is all the greater as a behind-the-scenes mistake led to the disqualification, which hurts.
“On the Nordschleife, everything must come together. Now we focus on analysing, learning, and preparing for the upcoming races and the 24-hour highlight.”
The 24 Hours of the Nurburgring is scheduled for the weekend of 16-17 May prior to the F1 Canadian Grand Prix.
Due to the conflict in the Middle East cancelling the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, Verstappen says he is now evaluating an outing in NLS3 on 11 April.
