Max Verstappen disqualified after Nürburgring race win in a Mercedes
Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen of the Oracle Red Bull team answers questions from media representatives after his early retirement from the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix race. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa Four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen switched from his Red Bull into a Mercedes sports car but was disqualified after initially winning the opening leg of the Nürburgring endurance series NLS on Saturday. Verstappen originally topped the four-hour race together with Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 as he gained valuable experience for the 24-hour race on the famous German course later in the year.
The NLS said it was only revealed some two hours after the race that the team used seven instead of the allowed six sets of tyres. As a result, race stewards had no choice but to disqualify the team. "It is the craziest race track in the world - in a positive sense," Verstappen said at first post-race.
"It was a great experience to drive here. It was a really fun and I really good. " Verstappen's team had topped the race by more than a minute for a second success in the NLS series.
He will return for the 24-hour race May 14-17. The races don't interfere with his duties in F1 where he has had a difficult start without a podium in the first two races in the wake of sweeping rule changes.