Inside Verstappen’s Nürburgring Mercedes — from the Green Hell to the Goodwood Hill

Still warm from its latest sprint up the Hill, the Red Bull-clad competitor sat at rest among its engineers. We popped the bonnet to get a look beneath the aggressive graphics that command so much attention. Underneath the skin, this elite racer shares a surprising amount with its track-day siblings, as Oetinger explained. “It’s basically a normal AMG GT3, but with the Nürburgring spec, it’s a bit different to the normal spec. Otherwise it’s a normal GT3.” 

That “normal” spec is still a mind-boggling piece of engineering. At the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the car weighed in at 1,355kg. While a top-tier driver can launch it from a standstill in under three seconds, the realities of endurance racing mean pure launch times are secondary. “Normally we don’t need it because we have a rolling start,” Oetinger noted. Instead, the focus shifts to top-end performance down the legendary Döttinger Höhe straight, where Oetinger estimates the car clocks "approximately 170 to 180mph depending on whether it has slipstream or not."

Propelling that weight through the ‘Green Hell’ is a thunderous, naturally aspirated V8 engine. While modern turbocharging dominates many racing disciplines, the linear power delivery of the AMG V8 remains Team Verstappen's lethal weapon against extreme elevation changes. Festival of Speed spectators got a taste of that brutal soundtrack firsthand as it roared up our tarmac. “This engine is super good for that track,” Oetinger smiled, “because of the sound and the feeling of the engine… The power is just always there. It’s super good for circuits like that.” 

Power, however, is nothing without control — an engineering reality amplified when preparing a car for an uncompromising talent like four-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen. The Nürburgring is notoriously bumpy, demanding a delicate chassis balance that can accommodate both high-speed stability and violent kerb-riding. Finding that sweet spot is tough enough for one driver, let alone a four-driver line-up that included Lucas Auer, Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon. 

“It’s really difficult for the team and engineers to find the right setup on the suspension,” Oetinger admitted. “Because it’s very bumpy, especially at high speeds. It’s really tricky to find the right setup for all four drivers. But we have a lot of experience, and I think we manage things like this quite well.” 

Beyond the suspension geometry, the engineering crew tailored the car’s aerodynamics specifically to conquer long straights, giving Verstappen and his teammates the ultimate weapon for top-end speed. “The rear wing is a bit smaller for low downforce to generate more top speed,” Oetinger pointed out, before adding with a grin as he gestured to their setup in our paddock: “It’s also great to have lunch on. It’s the perfect height for our table this weekend.”

It’s quite the sight to see such an elite piece of motorsport engineering double as a picnic bench; out on the tarmac this aerodynamic masterpiece had far more serious work to do.

As the team learned so painfully near the finish line at the Nürburgring, no amount of development can fully insure against the heartbreak of mechanical failure. Even when everything is running smoothly, the battle for Verstappen's squad is still a mental one. “The hardest part of the race is always when you have a technical problem or technical issue like in this race,” Oetinger said. “If everything goes well, the hardest part is between 3am and 6am to stay awake,” highlighting the gruelling intensity of the race for all those involved.

While a broken driveshaft denied this particular AMG GT3 Evo its rightful spot on the top step of the podium in May, its breathtaking pace and engineering resilience left an undeniable mark on the 2026 race.

Looking at the car resting in the Festival of Speed paddocks, Oetinger left us with one final wish for Verstappen Racing's next campaign: “I would love to run it with Red Bull fuel, that’s for sure. Hopefully, some time we can do this.”

Ultimate victory may have slipped through their fingers, but with Max Verstappen at the helm, an experienced crew and a proven weapon of a car, this team has laid down a threatening marker for the future of endurance racing. We were thrilled to host them at the Festival of Speed, and we look forward to witnessing their future exploits.

The 2027 Festival of Speed will take place on 15th-18th July 2027, sign up for ticket alerts to make sure you don't miss out. Tickets are available for GRRC Members and Fellows, you can join the Fellowship today.

Main image photography by Charlie Brenninmeijer.