Dominant GT3 win overturned as Winward Racing disqualified for exceeding tyre allocation
Max Verstappen’s commanding victory at the Nürburgring was overturned hours after the chequered flag, with officials disqualifying the Winward Racing entry for breaching tyre regulations.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion, competing in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), had secured pole position and led a dominant performance in the four-hour GT3 race. Sharing driving duties with Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, Verstappen crossed the line nearly a minute ahead of the field.
However, post-race scrutineering revealed that the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 had used seven sets of tyres, exceeding the maximum allocation of six permitted under NLS regulations.
Under the series’ rules, such a breach results in automatic disqualification.
A Costly Internal Error
Winward Racing later confirmed the infringement was the result of an internal mistake rather than deliberate misconduct. Team Principal Christian Hohenadel acknowledged the error, stating that the team had no choice but to accept the stewards’ decision.
The disqualification handed victory to the Rowe Racing BMW crew, who had originally finished second on the road. On pure performance, the Nürburgring outing was near faultless.
Verstappen set the benchmark early with a decisive pole lap and maintained control through each stint, managing traffic, tyre wear, and race pace with the precision expected of a Formula 1 champion. The No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 never looked under threat, steadily building a margin that approached a minute by the closing stages.
Across all measurable parameters, pace, consistency, and race management, the drive stood out as one of the most complete performances of the event. Yet endurance racing operates on a broader definition of execution.
While Verstappen delivered on track, the result ultimately hinged on regulatory compliance. The tyre allocation breach, though administrative in nature, nullified an otherwise dominant display, reinforcing a fundamental truth of multi-hour racing: performance and process are inseparable.
The Nürburgring appearance came amid a difficult start to Verstappen’s 2026 Formula 1 campaign, including inconsistent results and a recent retirement.
While the GT3 race initially appeared to offer a reset, the post-race penalty instead extended a frustrating run, albeit for reasons unrelated to driving performance.
