Team Verstappen and polesitter clash at start of Nurburgring 24 Hours

The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours has already delivered drama within the opening hour as the front row-starting Red Bull-backed Team Abt Lamborghinis both hit trouble, with Team Verstappen surviving contact with the polesitter. Mirko Bortolotti started the #84 Lamborghini from pole at the rolling start – but almost immediately lost the lead to a blinding start from Marco Mapelli in the sister #130 car.However, it emerged 40 minutes later that Mapelli had jumped the start, earning himself a 32-second time penalty to be served at his first pitstop. There was more drama at the start, too, as Bortolotti was tapped by Dani Juncadella’s Team Verstappen Mercedes as they duelled for second through the second hairpin. That looked fairly innocuo …