Max Verstappen will follow an unconventional route for a Formula 1 driver by participating in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring this year. The four-time F1 champion will have alongside him Mercedes-AMG endurance racing specialists Lucas Auer, Daniel Juncadella, and Jules Gounon, forming a team considered ‘super strong’ by Nicky Catsburg, a veteran driver and former winner of the classic endurance race.
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“It’s very cool, first for him, that Red Bull Racing allows this between F1 commitments, and also for us mere mortals,” Catsburg told GPblog. Verstappen will compete in the second round of the NLS as early as March 21, adapting his schedule to prepare for the 24-hour challenge between the F1 GPs in China and Japan: “There was some criticism about it, but I think it’s completely understandable and very smart,” Catsburg said.
Verstappen’s presence in the endurance race also draws attention, as Dutch fans are already planning to travel to the iconic Nurburgring circuit in May to cheer for his victory. Catsburg guarantees he has good chances: “He has incredibly good teammates, Mercedes specialists. It’s a very strong lineup with a very solid team. We only know the BoP on Saturday morning, sometimes only at night, so the competition is always unpredictable,” he said.
This collaboration also strengthens Mercedes’ image. The #3 AMG GT3 Evo car will appear in Red Bull colors: “If Max Verstappen knocks on your door and says he wants to do these races, all doors open. Winning would be fantastic for Mercedes. They say: ‘We race on Sunday, we sell on Monday’.”
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Catsburg also highlighted Verstappen’s profile: “He is very dedicated to the sport itself. He chooses to participate because he likes it, and now he’s going to race the 24-hour event at the Nordschleife (the full Nurburgring circuit with over 20 km in length) simply because he thinks it’s incredible. I think it’s very cool that he doesn’t care about what is customary in Formula 1. He is participating in one of the coolest endurance races in the world,” he added.
The veteran driver also highlighted the uniqueness of the German circuit: “When you get close to the track, you already feel that something special is happening. It’s a unique ‘old-school’ circuit, and that makes everyone want to race there. Fortunately, Max Verstappen wants to as well,” he concluded.
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