Max Verstappen has been handed a significant boost in his quest for victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
The Dutchman’s team will start the race from fourth on the grid, with the #84 and #130 Lamborghinis occupying the front row ahead.
In endurance racing, the Balance of Performance (BoP) system is used to equalise the pace of competing cars.
Faster teams and cars are targeted with additional weight and reduced power to level the field.
Following the results from Top Qualifying, organisers have introduced further BoP adjustments. Lamborghini and Porsche will each carry an additional five kilograms, while BMW faces a larger increase of 10 kilograms.
The German manufacturer, which is the defending champion with Kelvin van der Linde among its drivers, is therefore among the most affected.
In terms of power, Lamborghini has been hit hardest, with its engine restrictor reduced by half a millimetre, limiting output.
Ford, meanwhile, runs a twin-restrictor system, with the second restrictor reduced by one millimetre.
These changes offer Verstappen an advantage, as Mercedes does not need to make any BoP adjustments ahead of the race.
Although the Mercedes-AMG GT3 carries a minimum weight of 1,355 kilograms—making it one of the heavier cars in the SP9 class—the increases applied to BMW (1,350 kilograms) and Lamborghini (1,335 kilograms) bring them closer in line, potentially benefiting Mercedes in relative terms.
