Max Verstappen dominates GT3 qualifying at Nordschleife with huge pole margin. Max Verstappen takes an incredible GT3 pole at the Nordschleife in NLS2 .

Max Verstappen continues to impress even outside of Formula 1, securing an extraordinary pole position in the NLS2 with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 on the Nordschleife circuit. The Dutch driver stopped the clock at an astonishing 7:51.751, beating the entire competition by more than two seconds.

The German weekend represents a preparatory step for Verstappen ahead of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, scheduled for May. For this endurance race, the Dutch driver shares the Mercedes GT3 with Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, in a context completely different from Formula 1.

The qualifying session began with Dani Juncadella, who set a solid 8:01.3. However, the session was immediately affected by a “Code 60” caused by an incident involving the Porsche #40, which forced all drivers to slow down on a section of the track.

Verstappen then took to the car for the first time, familiarizing himself with the circuit without yet improving on his teammate’s time. After a driver swap with Jules Gounon, everything was decided in the final stages: with a clear track and no neutralizations, Max Verstappen produced an impressive lap to claim pole position. Another “Code 60” in the closing moments prevented his rivals from responding to the four-time World Champion’s time.

Verstappen in pole: perfect lap with a touch of luck

Despite his dominance, Max Verstappen admitted that his pole position was helped by some circumstances. He said he was a bit lucky with traffic and believed it was the only lap of the session without a Code 60. “The feeling in the car is good,” he added.

The Dutch driver also emphasized that he is still adapting to the car. “Obviously I still need to gain experience with this machine. However, I have to say that Friday was a very positive day, and everything is better with the sun,” Verstappen explained. He also expressed great enthusiasm for this new experience: “I love GT3 cars, and racing a 24-hour here… I’ve watched a lot of them, and this year I’ll do it myself. Driving on this circuit is always something special.”

Learning the differences compared to Formula 1

Finally, Max Verstappen highlighted the differences compared to Formula 1, particularly in race management. “For me, it’s important to better understand the pit stops, because in F1 there are no driver changes. I still need experience in this as well,” he said.