MAX VERSTAPPEN DISQUALIFIED FROM NLS2 WIN AFTER SURPASSING TYRE SET LIMITS
Max Verstappen was disqualified from his NLS2 victory at the Nurburgring after his team used seven sets of tyres.
What initially seemed like another highlight in Max Verstappen’s expanding endurance racing journey ended harshly and unexpectedly. Hours after crossing the finish line at the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) race, the four-time Formula 1 world champion was disqualified.
Verstappen, driving alongside Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, had taken the chequered flag first in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis, the second round of the 2026 NLS season. However, their celebration was short-lived. About two hours later, race officials announced the car’s disqualification due to a violation of tyre rules. This handed the victory to Dan Harper and Jordan Pepper in the BMW M4 GT3 for ROWE Racing instead.
The decision came after the usual post-race inspection, where data from the series’ tyre monitoring system revealed that the team had used seven sets of tyres, surpassing the six-set limit imposed by NLS regulations. Faced with these facts, race stewards had little choice but to exclude the team from the final standings.
Christian Hohenadel, team principal of Winward Racing, expressed the sting of the disqualification. He acknowledged a team error behind the incident and apologised to supporters, emphasising their intent to analyse what happened and prepare more carefully for future races. “This was our debut as a Mercedes-AMG Performance team on the Nordschleife,” he noted.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Verstappen’s performance on track was hard to ignore. With over 130 cars competing and around 25,000 fans in attendance, the Dutch driver stood out during qualifying, securing pole with a lap time of 7:51.751. Verstappen himself described pole position as a pleasant surprise, especially since he finally managed a clean lap free of traffic.
The race featured intense battling at the front. Christopher Haase pushed early and briefly took the lead, but the Mercedes eventually re-established control. Further behind, ROWE Racing capitalised on a strong strategy, moving up from seventh to claim the win once the disqualification was enforced.
Jordan Pepper remarked on Verstappen’s presence, calling it great for the sport and recognising him as a consummate professional who challenges competitors.
The NLS2 event delivered excitement beyond the lead. Falken Motorsports climbed from tenth to a podium spot, while 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON enjoyed a revised classification that gave them a top-three finish and victory in the PRO-AM class. Smyrlis Racing took charge of the CUP3 category, and PROsport Racing secured the win in SP10 with its Mercedes-AMG GT4. In the VT2-RWD class, SRS Team Sorg Rennsport earned victory with their Toyota Supra after a tight contest.
Although the final result worked against him, Verstappen’s display reaffirmed his adaptability beyond the confines of Formula 1 machines. Reflecting on the challenge of the Nordschleife, he called it one of the wildest circuits out there and expressed a clear desire to race there as often as possible.
Looking ahead, the next NLS round is scheduled for April 11, as Verstappen continues preparations for the renowned 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where he is expected to compete again. For now, what might have been another celebration at the Nordschleife serves as a reminder of how unforgiving endurance racing’s regulations can be.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
