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Max Verstappen will return to the Nürburgring Nordschleife between May 14 and 17 for the Nürburgring 24 Hours — and unlike the streamlined world of Formula 1 qualifying, the four-time world champion faces one of motorsport's most elaborate and unforgiving qualification structures. There are no shortcuts available to him, and the road to pole position is considerably longer than he may have hoped.
Verstappen will be forced through the complete qualifying gauntlet, missing out on the exemptions reserved for the most successful teams from earlier NLS races and April's qualifying rounds. His team finds itself among those starting from scratch, partly as a consequence of their disqualification during the NLS2 race and technical troubles that struck during the second qualifier event.
There is, however, some Dutch consolation in the paddock. Thierry Vermeulen — Verstappen's own protégé — is among the five teams already guaranteed a place in the final qualifying session, having claimed pole for the second qualifier race last month. That result secures Vermeulen at least 12th on the grid, giving the Dutch camp something to celebrate even as the headline act faces the longer route.
Missing the exemption does not eliminate Verstappen's pole position chances, but it does make the path considerably more complex. Understanding why requires understanding the format itself — a layered, multi-session system that bears little resemblance to F1's three-part knockout structure.
It's not the only arena where Verstappen's name is linked to non-F1 endurance ambitions. Ford have confirmed ongoing discussions with the four-time champion over a potential future Hypercar programme, underscoring just how seriously the sport's wider endurance world is courting the Dutchman.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours qualification format is built around a fundamental distinction: 23 different classes, each with its own path through the weekend. Verstappen competes in the SP9 category, alongside teams in SP-PRO, SP-X, and AT1 — the elite classifications where serious qualifying only begins on Friday.
For these premier-class teams, the first three qualifying rounds — Q1, Q2, and Q3 — function essentially as glorified practice. Times are recorded and classified, but carry no bearing on weekend outcomes. The real business is conducted in the Top Qualifying sessions.
For the remaining 112 teams spread across the other classes, those three rounds carry genuine weight. Grid positions 50 through 161 are distributed across Q1, Q2, and Q3, with each team's fastest time determining their Saturday starting spot. Regardless of pace, those teams cannot advance to the Top Qualifying sessions — the two tiers of the field operate in entirely separate worlds.
One session stands apart from the rest: Q2, held Thursday evening at 20:00 local time. Running in darkness across the German Eifel region, this session carries a mandatory participation requirement that applies to all SP9, SP-PRO, SP-X, and AT1 teams. Every driver must complete at least one lap to remain eligible for the race. Skipping Q2 means immediate exclusion — no exceptions.
Q1 begins on Thursday at 13:15 and runs for two hours. Q3 follows on Friday from 12:00, concluding at 13:05. Both remain optional for the premier classes, but Q2 is non-negotiable.
Friday is defined entirely by Top Qualifying, where 49 teams from the premier classes fight for the upper reaches of the starting grid in a format that deliberately mirrors F1's elimination knockout structure.
With five teams already exempted and entering directly at TQ3, the remaining 44 teams — including Verstappen's #3 Winward Racing entry — must contest TQ1, which begins at 10:15 on Friday morning. Drivers receive a 30-minute window to set their quickest lap, which realistically allows for two flying attempts. The 20 fastest teams advance to TQ2; the remaining 24 have their fate sealed, filling grid positions P26 through P49.
TQ2 introduces an additional layer of complexity for SP9-PRO teams: driver rotation requirements apply. If Verstappen tackles TQ1, he cannot participate in TQ2. Again, teams are given 30 minutes to qualify, with only the seven quickest advancing to the final shootout. The remainder settle into positions P13 through P25.
TQ3 is where everything culminates. Twelve teams — the five exempted sides plus the seven survivors of TQ2 — contest a one-hour session for pole position. Unlike earlier rounds, teams are sent out individually with brief intervals between them, eliminating the traffic complications that can define the earlier sessions.
Each driver receives two flying laps to establish their ultimate pace around the Nordschleife. The fastest of those laps wins the prestigious Glickenhaus Trophy and pole position for Saturday's race start.
For Verstappen, the challenge is clear. The path is longer and the obstacles more numerous than anything F1 demands in a qualifying session. But the destination — pole at the Nürburgring 24 Hours — remains well within reach for a driver of his calibre, provided the team avoids any further misfortune.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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