Show on the track, but victory missed Another unlucky weekend on the Nürburgring Nordschleife ends for Max Verstappen. After the cancellation of yesterday’s race, logically stopped following the terrible accident that cost the life of 66-year-old Juha Miettinen, today the four-time F1 world champion seemed well on his way to bringing home success together with his crewmate Lucas Auer. There’s a front splitter defect which had Max return to the pits for repairsVery unfortunate after building up a 30+ second lead over P2 pic.twitter.com/gxxpEHzmrA— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) April 19, 2026 Fate, however, decided differently and so – exactly like in March when the first place finish of the Mercedes #3 was canceled out by a sensational disqualification – once again something went awry between the champion Hasselt and the top step of the Green Hell podium. What denied the Verstappen/Auer duo success was a technical problem (specifically with the front splitter) which forced the Dutchman to make a very long pit stop while he was in first position. The orange driver had put on a great show up to that point, dragging his Mercedes #3 from fifth position on the grid to the lead of the race. Among the pearls signed by the representative of the team that bears his name there was also an overtaking at the entrance to the pit lane and yet another fantastic duel with the Audi #16 of Christopher Haase, with whom Verstappen had already staged a splendid confrontation in the last race held at the Ring. 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, 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 took the car back to complete the race and cross the finish line in 38th position. The Verstappen/Auer duo has at least the consolation of having signed the fastest lap in the race with a time of 8:10.453
