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Max Verstappen logged valuable night laps on the Nürburgring Nordschleife on Friday, tackling heavy rain, hail and intermittent fog as teams finalised their running ahead of the 24-hour race. The session offered the Dutch driver rare practice in treacherous low-light conditions — a useful rehearsal for a race that could also see wet weather after dark.
Night-time running under testing conditions
The evening qualifying formed a continuation of earlier practice, but the contrast in conditions meant the order was largely unchanged. A blustery, mostly dry afternoon gave way to a downpour at night, with visibility reduced and standing water producing several aquaplaning incidents across the field.
Verstappen, sharing the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 campaigned by Winward Racing, had already completed the mandatory timed laps during the afternoon and therefore used the wet session primarily to extend his experience on the circuit after dark. His best lap for the weekend — an 8:18.539 — was set earlier, which kept the car third on the overall sheet.
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At the top, Maro Engel (car 80) produced the fastest mark, while Raffaele Marciello put the Rowe Racing BMW M4 GT3 into second. Several drivers reported moments of loss of grip as the track surface became patchy, underlining how quickly the Nordschleife can change once night and rain combine.
Verstappen’s recent programme at the Nordschleife includes multiple NLS appearances, but his first attempt at a full night race was curtailed last month after a fatal accident in an NL5 event. The team stressed caution in the wet; that was reflected in measured lap times and conservative stints during the darker periods of qualifying.
Why it matters for the race
Experience in wet, low-visibility conditions is not just about pace — it can determine stints, driver rotation and safety decisions once the race reaches night-time. Any team that adapts to standing water and limited sight-lines will be better placed to avoid mistakes and tyre degradation when the race hits its most demanding hours.
For spectators and bettors alike, the performances in these conditions offer a more realistic preview of how the top contenders might behave if Saturday night turns wet. For teams, the session doubled as a live stress-test of race strategy and car balance under adverse conditions.
How the rest of qualifying unfolds
The event progresses into Top Qualifying rounds designed to whittle the field to a small shootout for pole. First, cars in the SP9, SP-X, SP-PRO and AT1 classes contest Top Qualifying 1; the 20 fastest advance to Top Qualifying 2, and the top seven from there join five pre-qualified entrants to form a 12-car Top Qualifying 3. That final session will set the front positions for the 24-hour start, scheduled for Saturday at 15:00 local time.
Stormy night practice underlines one practical takeaway: teams that are adaptable and cautious can convert endurance into advantage, while those chasing outright lap time risk costly incidents when the track is at its most unpredictable.
Qualifying 2 — top 10
| Pos | Car | Driver | Best lap | Gap | Machine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80 | Maro Engel | 8:14.957 | – | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 2 | 1 | Raffaele Marciello | 8:18.069 | +3.112 | BMW M4 GT3 EVO |
| 3 | 3 | Max Verstappen | 8:18.539 | +3.582 | Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
| 4 | 99 | Daniel Harper | 8:18.602 | +3.645 | BMW M4 GT3 EVO |
| 5 | 911 | Ayhancan Güven | 8:21.717 | +6.760 | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo26 |
| 6 | 130 | Nicholas Yelloly | 8:21.998 | +7.041 | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 |
| 7 | 77 | Robin Frijns | 8:26.625 | +11.668 | BMW M4 GT3 EVO |
| 8 | 64 | Arjun Maini | 8:26.751 | +11.794 | Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (2026) |
| 9 | 16 | Alexander Sims | 8:27.080 | +12.123 | Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II |
| 10 | 17 | Nico Menzel | 8:27.176 | +12.219 | Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo26 |
The rain-affected session offered little movement in the leaderboard but plenty of lessons on how night-time conditions can reshape strategy. With Top Qualifying still to come, teams will pore over data gathered in the wet as they finalise plans for a race that could hinge on who best reads the changing weather and the demanding Nordschleife surface.
