P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Team Verstappen’s chances of winning the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours suffered a terminal blow as Dani Juncadella suddenly slowed on track
Team Verstappen’s hopes of winning the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours were dashed when Dani Juncadella experienced a driveshaft problem that forced him to slow down on track. Initially leading with the #3 car, Max Verstappen handed over to Juncadella before the issue surfaced during Juncadella’s third lap. This setback allowed the #80 Winward Racing car, driven by Maro Engel, to take the lead as Juncadella made his way back to the pits. After a 15-minute inspection in the garage, it was confirmed that a driveshaft problem caused the trouble for the #3 Mercedes team. As a result, Team Verstappen’s car plummeted to ninth place in the rankings, while the #80 Mercedes now has an opportunity to secure a Nurburgring 24 Hours victory and end Mercedes’ decade-long wait for such a triumph.
