Max Verstappen Went From P1 to P39 — Was This Bad Luck or Something Else?
Max Verstappen Went From P1 to P39 — Was This Bad Luck or Something Else? For a moment, it looked like Max Verstappen was about to do what he always does. Different series, different car, same result — total control.
The four-time Formula One champion surged through the field early in the NLS5 race at the Nürburgring and quickly put himself in position to win. It felt predictable, almost routine, given how the opening laps unfolded. Then, without warning, everything changed.
From Mid-Pack to Race Leader in Minutes Verstappen didn’t start from the front, but that didn’t slow him down for long. Within the opening laps, he was already picking off cars one by one, moving through the field with precision and confidence. The passes weren’t desperate moves either, they were clean, calculated, and controlled.
By lap four, he had taken the lead after a hard-fought battle with Christopher Haase in the Audi. Once out front, Verstappen settled into a rhythm that suggested he was managing the race rather than fighting it. At that point, it looked like the outcome was already taking shape.
Strategy Was Working — Until It Wasn’t The early advantage wasn’t just about speed, it extended to strategy as well. Verstappen’s stint allowed for a shorter pit stop, which helped him return to the track with a clear gap over the competition. That gap grew to roughly 30 seconds, giving him room to manage pace and control the race from the front.
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