The #80 Mercedes is heading for victory in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Fabian Schiller is several minutes ahead of its closest rival after torrid luck for Max Verstappen and co.
The #80 Mercedes is poised for victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours after mechanical issues dashed Max Verstappen’s hopes of winning the race. Fabian Schiller now leads by a significant margin, benefitting from the misfortune that befell the #3 car towards the end of the event. Verstappen, who had been leading, faced a drivetrain failure during a routine driver change, forcing his car out of contention. Despite a brief ceremonial appearance, the car is effectively out of the running. As a result, the sister #80 Mercedes, now under Maro Engel’s guidance, inherited the lead but experienced some technical issues, necessitating a precautionary pit stop. Schiller took over and adopted a conservative driving strategy to protect the lead, with the crew building a substantial margin over their closest competitor. Unless any unexpected developments occur, the #80 Mercedes is on track to secure victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, providing some solace to the Mercedes team following Verstappen’s unfortunate exit.
