Rescue personnel arrived quickly but could not save Miettinen's life, according to a statement from race management. He was pronounced dead shortly after resuscitation attempts at the on-site Medical Centre proved unsuccessful. One of the surviving drivers had to be airlifted from the track due to the severity of the wreckage, multiple reports indicate.
The accident occurred on the section of Nürburgring called Nordschleife. This fatality is the first during a race on Nordschleife since 2013 when Wolf Silvester died. The cause of the accident is unclear, according to officials, and the exact location on the circuit remains uncertain with conflicting reports emerging.
Max Verstappen commented on the tragedy on Instagram, expressing shock and condolences to Miettinen's family and loved ones.
Miettinen was a 66-year-old amateur driver who competed in a BMW 325i. He called himself an amateur driver on his Instagram account. The Finnish veteran racer was a fixture at the Nürburgring, known for mentoring younger drivers, according to multiple reports. In his final Instagram post hours before his death, Miettinen expressed excitement and readiness for the races, according to his own social media account.
None of the other six injured drivers suffered life-threatening injuries. The injured include 20-year-old Swede Siri Hökfelt, according to multiple reports. According to TV4 Nyheterna, Per Hökfelt described how his daughter called him to say everything was okay, then was airlifted to the hospital and remains under observation as a standard process. According to Expressen Sport, Per Hökfelt described her as doing well under the circumstances. The full extent and current medical status of all six injured drivers has not been confirmed.
Max Verstappen shared his shock and grief over Miettinen's passing on social media, offering heartfelt condolences to the family.
Race control stopped the event instantly to allow emergency services to reach the scene. Organisers released a statement expressing deep sorrow and confirmed the race would not resume on Saturday evening out of respect for Miettinen. A minute of silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday to honor Miettinen's memory, the organisers confirmed.
The qualifying session was canceled, affecting drivers including Max Verstappen who was scheduled to participate later but did not get the opportunity. Verstappen was participating in the event but was not on the track when the accident happened, according to multiple reports. The race has been suspended for now, and the broadcast has temporarily gone off air, according to research sources. It is unclear if and when the race may resume.
Miettinen expressed excitement and readiness for the races in his final Instagram post hours before his death.
Additional reports suggest the massive seven-car pileup was possibly caused by spilled oil on the track, according to research sources. The crash may have occurred at Klostertal, a fast corner before the hairpin that leads to the track’s famous Karussell, according to research sources. RacingNews365 also understands that one driver has been taken to hospital by helicopter with pain in his back and neck. According to RacingNews365, the drivers of cars #27 and #992 are believed to be okay, with the former bruised from the crash.
Conflicting reports have created confusion about the exact spot where the multi-car pileup happened. Some sources indicate the crash occurred at Klostertal, while others suggest the incident took place at the Karussell. This disagreement could affect understanding of the crash dynamics and safety assessments. There are also contradictions regarding the condition of other drivers involved in the crash. While officials state none of the six other drivers are in a life-threatening condition, one report highlights a specific case where a driver was airlifted with back and neck pain, raising questions about the severity of injuries among the survivors.
Siri Hökfelt's father Per Hökfelt said she called him to say everything was okay, then was airlifted to the hospital and remains under observation as a standard process.
Key questions remain about what specifically caused the multi-car crash, whether due to spilled oil, mechanical failure, or driver error. The reason for conflicting reports about the exact location of the crash on the Nordschleife has not been explained. Safety measures for any potential resumption of the ADAC 24-hour race qualifiers have not been detailed. Max Verstappen commented on the tragedy on Instagram, expressing shock and condolences to Miettinen's family and loved ones. The Formula 1 driver shared his shock and grief over Miettinen's passing on social media, offering heartfelt condolences to the family.
Siri Hökfelt's father Per Hökfelt said she is doing well under the circumstances.