Published May 15, 2026 | 8:06 PM ⚊ Updated May 15, 2026 | 8:06 PM
Arjun Maini drives the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3. Inset: Maini with HRT team-mates Fabio Scherer, David Schumacher and Frank Stippler.
Synopsis: Bengaluru’s Arjun Maini outqualified four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen in Qualifying 2 for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, one of endurance racing’s toughest events, on Friday. Driving for HRT Ford Performance in the SP9 category, Maini set the fourth-fastest time in the session with a lap of 8:11.278, nearly four-tenths of a second quicker than Verstappen.
Bengaluru’s former Formula 1 aspirant Arjun Maini beat four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen in Qualifying 2 for the prestigious 24 Hours of Nürburgring, held on Friday, 15 May, finishing ahead of the Red Bull F1 driver in one of the most competitive GT3 fields in world motorsport.
The 24 Hours of Nürburgring is one of the world’s most demanding endurance races, held annually at the historic and infamous Nordschleife Nürburgring circuit in Germany – an old-school, unforgiving 25-km track long dubbed the “Green Hell” for its narrow layout, close walls, blind corners and deadly kerbs. The race is set to start on Saturday, 16 May, at 6.30 pm IST.
Maini, driving for Haupt Racing Team (HRT) Ford Performance in the headline SP9 category, clocked an 8:11.278 lap in the No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3.
The former Formula 2 driver ended the session fourth overall in SP9, ahead of Verstappen, whose Mercedes-AMG GT3 posted an 8:11.614 lap.
Qualifying 2 is one of several sessions used to set the grid for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with the fastest SP9 entries progressing to later Top Qualifying sessions that decide the front rows.
“It’s always special to be competitive at the Nürburgring because the level here is incredibly high. The SP9 field is stacked with factory drivers and top teams, so to put together a lap like that feels really satisfying. The car felt strong throughout the session and we’ve been making good progress with the setup. There’s still work to do before the race, but it’s definitely a positive start for us,” Maini said after the session.
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Maini’s impressive result came in a packed 161-car field spread across more than 20 classes. This year’s edition also marks the event’s largest starting grid in more than a decade.
The biggest name this year is Max Verstappen, who is participating after being vocally unimpressed with Formula 1’s 2026 technical regulations, taking his first major step outside the ‘pinnacle of motorsport’ to try his hand at endurance racing, something he has openly harboured ambitions of pursuing for some time.
The four-time world champion has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for the Nürburgring and his desire to compete in major 24-hour races.
He is driving a Red Bull-badged Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Team Verstappen Racing alongside experienced endurance drivers Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer.
Verstappen has already raced in preparatory Nürburgring endurance events and sees the 24-hour race as both a personal challenge and a chance to broaden his career beyond Formula One.
As the weekend progresses, Maini and his HRT team-mates Fabio Scherer, David Schumacher and Frank Stippler will hope to continue their form and secure a strong starting position to give themselves the best possible chance on Sunday.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
