The Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #17 entry was disqualified from the 2024 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa qualifying sessions after stewards ruled the team performed illegal work on the car’s braking system during the Q3 session. As a result, all lap times recorded by drivers Maxime Martin, Maximilian Götz, and Fabian Schiller were deleted, forcing the team to the back of the grid for the start of the endurance classic.
Why was the GetSpeed Mercedes penalized?
According to the official stewards’ report, the disqualification stemmed from a breach of the sporting regulations regarding car maintenance during qualifying. During the Q3 session, television cameras captured mechanics removing the right rear brake assembly to clear debris following an off-track excursion by Maximilian Götz.
Under the SRO Motorsports Group regulations for the 24 Hours of Spa, teams are prohibited from performing significant repairs or modifications to the vehicle while a qualifying session is in progress. Because the team attempted to clear the brake ducts and remove gravel while the session was active, officials mandated the cancellation of all Q3 times for the #17 entry.
How does the grid change for Superpole?
The exclusion of the GetSpeed Mercedes triggered a significant shuffle in the starting order for the final grid. The #17 team, which had provisionally secured the fastest average time of 2:17.049, was removed from the Superpole shootout entirely.
This vacancy allowed the #20 Team Motopark Mercedes-AMG GT3—driven by Levente Revesz, Christian Mansell, Yannick Mettler, and Rui Andrade—to advance. The Motopark quartet had originally missed the cut for the top 32 by a narrow margin of 0.010 seconds. With the GetSpeed car removed, the #20 entry secured the final spot in the Superpole session.
Who are the favorites heading into the race?
With the GetSpeed entry relegated to the back of the field, the AF Corse Ferrari #51, piloted by Alessio Rovera, Tommaso Mosca, and Nicklas Nielsen, emerged as the leading contender for the pole position.
The penalty highlights the high-stakes nature of the Spa 24 Hours, where technical scrutiny is strictly enforced. While the race itself spans 24 hours and allows teams time to recover from poor starting positions, the loss of a front-row start forces the GetSpeed team to navigate through heavy traffic in the opening stages. This increases the risk of early-race contact, a common challenge in the dense 60-plus car field at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Summary of Impact
- Offending Entry: Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed #17.
- Reason for Penalty: Unauthorized brake work during active Q3 session.
- Consequence: Deletion of all Q3 lap times and exclusion from Superpole.
- Beneficiary: Team Motopark #20, which moved into the 32nd position to qualify for the shootout.
- Current Standings: AF Corse Ferrari #51 assumed the position of the fastest car heading into the final qualifying stages.
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