Max Verstappen’s frequent presence at the Nurburgring circuit has had an impact far beyond the tracks. The German circuit praised the Red Bull Racing driver’s involvement with endurance racing and stated that the Dutchman has strengthened his credibility as a driver by competing outside of Formula 1.
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Verstappen has increased his participation in events at the iconic Nordschleife-Nurburgring, which is over 20 km long, in recent months and is preparing to compete in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring alongside Dani Juncadella, Lucas Auer, and Jules Gounon. For those responsible for the circuit, the four-time F1 world champion’s choice represents an important gain both for the race and for motorsport in general.
The spokesperson for the Nurburgring circuit, Alexander Gerhard, highlighted that the driver’s interest in GT racing shows a rare attitude among current Formula 1 drivers: “Max Verstappen is still a true driver who loves to race,” he said in an interview with GPblog.
According to Gerhard, the Dutchman’s presence also attracts Formula 1 fans to endurance racing, expanding the reach of the traditional German race: “The numbers from advance ticket sales show that this helped further increase interest in the race. At the same time, I think this has one hundred percent strengthened Max’s credibility as a driver,” he stated.
The official also believes that Verstappen breaks an image often associated with Formula 1 drivers: “Some drivers end up living inside this F1 bubble. Max completely breaks that because, in a GT3, he is much closer to the car. This makes the emotional connection much stronger.”
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Gerhard also praised the fact that Verstappen seeks to compete in an environment surrounded by amateur teams and motorsport enthusiasts: “We have many teams where people work on the cars as a hobby on weekends. He chooses to enter this environment because he wants to. That is a great honor for us,” he said.
Another point highlighted was the process the Dutchman faced to obtain his license at the Nordschleife. For the circuit representative, Verstappen showed respect for the track and the tradition of the place: “He basically put himself to the test at the Nordschleife and said, ‘I also need to prove my worth here.’ He never showed fear, always made it clear that he does this because he wants to,” he added.
Finally, Gerhard believes that the Red Bull driver’s participation will raise the competitive level of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring: “This challenges other drivers in equally fast cars to show what they can do. This competition created with a current Formula 1 driver adds a new layer to the event and is very good for the entire universe of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring,” he concluded.
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