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Luca Auer Secures P5 for Red Bull Team Following Max Verstappen’s Qualifying Struggles

Posted : 19 April 2026

Luca Auer produced a vital recovery drive during Top Qualifying at the Nordschleife to secure fifth place on the grid. He shared the car with Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen for the second qualifier race of the Nurburgring 24 Hours. The duo had initially dominated the morning session before a strategic halt saw them tumble down the timing screens.

Verstappen had occupied the top spot during the early stages of the session on a damp and cold track. However, the team opted to pit with 20 minutes remaining, causing them to fall from first to 32nd as rivals improved. Christian Krognes eventually took the pole position in an Aston Martin by clocking a time of 8:18.515.

The pressure shifted to Auer for the final Top Qualifying shootout, which consisted of a warm-up and two flying laps. On his first attempt, Auer was languishing in 27th position as he struggled to find the ideal pace. He found significant time on his second lap to post a 8:13.351, leaving the team just over three seconds behind pacesetter Terry Vermeulen.

Verstappen noted the difficulty of the changing weather conditions and the damp grass off the racing line. He explained that experiencing these varied track states was beneficial for his preparation for the main endurance event. The Dutch driver emphasized the need for caution when overtaking slower traffic in such unpredictable grip levels.

The event has been overshadowed by the tragic death of BMW driver Juha Miettinen during a seven-car accident on Saturday. That incident led to the cancellation of the first qualifying race as medical teams could not save the driver. Verstappen expressed his deep condolences on social media, reminding fans of the inherent dangers found in motorsport.

Six other drivers involved in the multi-car pileup were taken to local hospitals for precautionary evaluations. None of those drivers are reported to have life-threatening injuries following the collision. The second four-hour race is set to proceed as the field prepares for the 24-hour marathon later this season.

 

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