Show on track, but victory slipped away
Another unlucky weekend on the Nürburgring Nordschleife for Max Verstappen comes to an end. After yesterday’s race cancellation, logically stopped following the terrible accident that cost the life of 66-year-old Juha Miettinen, today the four-time F1 world champion seemed excellently poised to bring home the victory together with his teammate Lucas Auer.
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There’s a front splitter defect which had Max return to the pits for repairs
Very unfortunate after building up a 30+ second lead over P2 pic.twitter.com/gxxpEHzmrA
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) April 19, 2026
However, fate decided otherwise, and so – exactly as in March when the Mercedes #3’s final first place was cancelled by a sensational disqualification – this time too something got in the way between the Hasselt champion and the top step of the Green Hell podium.
verstappen x haase racing, you love to see itpic.twitter.com/8UJkM5NStA
— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) April 19, 2026
Max overtaking in the pitlane entry 😭😭pic.twitter.com/RtLfwyG6yL
— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) April 19, 2026
Denying success to the Verstappen/Auer duo was a technical problem (specifically with the front splitter) which forced the Dutchman to a very long pit stop while he was in first position. The orange driver had put on a show until that moment, dragging his Mercedes #3 from fifth position on the grid to the lead of the race. Among the gems signed by the team’s driver, which bears his name, there was also an overtake at the pit lane entry and yet another fantastic duel with Christopher Haase’s Audi #16, with whom Verstappen had already staged a splendid confrontation in the last race held at the Ring.
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so they pitted because theres a literal huge hole in the car lmfao pic.twitter.com/ThmZS3mS1V
— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) April 19, 2026
Precisely the Audi #16 was the main beneficiary of the technical knockout of the Verstappen/Auer duo and was able to celebrate the victory with the Haase/Sims/Green crew. On the podium, behind them, were the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 of Team ABT #84 with Engstler/Bortolotti/Niederhauser and the Porsche 922 GT3-R EVO #911 of Preining/Campbell.
After the very long pit stop, Auer got back in the car to complete the race and crossed the finish line in 38th position. The Verstappen/Auer pair at least has the consolation of having set the fastest lap in the race with a time of 8:10.453
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