Seven-Car Nurburgring Pileup Claims Life of Juha Miettinen; Max Verstappen Expresses Shock
Veteran racer Juha Miettinen dies after a major seven car pile-up during the ADAC 24h Nurburgring Qualifiers at the Nordschleife.
By Divyam Dubey
Saturday’s running at the ADAC 24h Nurburgring Qualifiers came to a halt after a seven-car crash during the third lap at the Klostertal section of the Nordschleife. The incident occurred in a right-hand corner, leading race control to show red flags immediately. Marshals and medical teams reached the scene to assist those involved. The accident included the No.121 BMW 325i driven by Juha Miettinen, who later died following the incident.
Also Read: F1: Max Verstappen’s Race Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to Join McLaren in 2028
Miettinen received medical attention at the track before being transported to the circuit medical centre. Despite resuscitation attempts, the 66-year-old could not be saved.
Six other drivers involved in the collision were taken to the medical centre and nearby hospitals for checks. Organisers confirmed that none of the other participants sustained life-threatening injuries. The remainder of Saturday’s session was cancelled, and the race was not classified.
F1 driver Max Verstappen, who is competing at the event, stated he was shocked by the incident. He noted the inherent risks of motorsport and offered condolences to the family of the deceased.
Organisers have confirmed that the race programme is expected to continue on Sunday, with a minute’s silence scheduled during the grid formation for the race. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. While some reports suggest a potential fluid leak on the track, officials have provided no confirmed details regarding the source of the incident at this time.
The Nordschleife circuit spans 20.8km and contains over 150 corners. The track has been a venue for motorsport events since 1927, and it is the site where Niki Lauda sustained injuries during the 1976 Formula 1 season.
