Schumacher slams Winward as 'amateurs' over Verstappen's Nürburgring DQ

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has harshly criticized Winward Racing as "amateurs" after a simple tire-counting error led to Max Verstappen's dominant Nürburgring GT3 victory being stripped post-race. Verstappen, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with teammates Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, won the NLS2 race by 59 seconds, only to be disqualified for using seven sets of tyres instead of the permitted six.

Why it matters:

The incident highlights the intense scrutiny and unforgiving nature of professional motorsport regulations, where even a champion's victory can be undone by a team's operational error. For Verstappen, who was using the race as preparation for the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours in May, the disqualification represents a significant setback in his build-up, wasting a valuable on-track opportunity. The public criticism from a respected figure like Schumacher also damages the reputation of Winward Racing, a team operating under the high-profile 'Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing' banner for this event.

The details:

• The infringement was traced back to the qualifying session, where the team incorrectly used an extra set of tyres, violating the clear six-set limit for the event.
• Winward Racing team principal Christian Hohenadel admitted the mistake and apologized, stating, "The disqualification hurts... Unfortunately, a mistake was made within the team."
• Ralf Schumacher, familiar with the team through his son David's previous drives for them, was scathing in his assessment on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
  • He called it a "huge beginner’s mistake" and stated he was "not surprised that this happened," citing a history of similar issues.
  • Schumacher claimed the team "don’t take it so seriously" and have "other priorities than focusing on the essentials."
  • He emphasized the gravity of the error, especially with Verstappen involved: "If Max Verstappen participates, you check everything two or even three times... It’s just as bad as that time when Ferrari was ready for a three-tyre pit stop."

What's next:

Verstappen and the team may have a chance for redemption before the 24-hour race. The three-time F1 World Champion indicated he might contest another NLS round in April, stating, "We’ll check it... I try to be here as often as possible." The next series race is on April 11th, with 24-hour race qualifying following on April 18th-19th. The episode serves as a stark reminder to Winward and all teams of the precision required at motorsport's highest levels, especially when partnered with a driver of Verstappen's caliber.