Wet and highly changeable conditions are set to play a major role in this weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours, where Max Verstappen will make his highly anticipated debut in the iconic endurance race.
According to the Met Office, the Eifel mountains are expected to produce classic Nürburgring weather across the weekend, featuring persistent showers, low cloud, cool temperatures and the constant threat of fog around the Nordschleife.
Verstappen’s #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 squad will start from fourth on the grid after Spanish team-mate Dani Juncadella secured a place on the second row in Top Qualifying.
However, maintaining track position could prove incredibly difficult in what is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable editions of the race in recent years.
Rain already impacted qualifying sessions earlier in the event, with Verstappen completing his first laps of the Nordschleife at night in treacherous wet conditions.
For Saturday’s start, showers are expected throughout the afternoon, alongside temperatures struggling to climb beyond single figures in some parts of the circuit. Conditions overnight are forecast to worsen further, with mist and fog likely to descend across sections of the 25km layout.
Visibility has consistently been highlighted as one of the biggest concerns heading into the race, particularly through high-speed sections such as Döttinger Höhe and the fast forested areas of the Nordschleife.
Sunday is also expected to remain unsettled, with further showers likely during the closing hours of the endurance classic.
The challenging weather could become one of Verstappen’s greatest tests as he targets victory in his first attempt at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, especially given the four-time F1 world champion has limited experience of the circuit in wet and nighttime conditions compared to many Nürburgring specialists.
