Max Verstappen has received major praise ahead of his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut after Mercedes-AMG revealed how impressed it has been by the Formula 1 champion’s dedication to GT3 racing.
Verstappen will make his official debut in the legendary endurance race this weekend following several months of intensive preparation at the Nordschleife. The Dutch driver is scheduled to start fourth on the grid aboard a Mercedes-AMG GT3 machine.
Verstappen’s participation has also generated significant new interest in GT endurance racing from Formula 1 fans. Mercedes head of customer racing Stefan Wendl believes Verstappen’s impact on the popularity of the event has already been substantial.
"Thanks to Max, many fans who normally only follow Formula 1 are now also watching GT racing. They are seeing a completely different side of motorsport with intense wheel-to-wheel battles," Wendl told De Telegraaf.
According to Wendl, Verstappen’s presence has introduced the unique Nürburgring atmosphere to an entirely new audience. He also highlighted how amateur racers competing in the event now have the opportunity to share the track with a four-time Formula 1 world champion.
From a technical perspective, Verstappen’s adaptation to GT3 machinery has reportedly been exceptionally fast. Unlike Formula 1, which relies heavily on extreme downforce and peak tyre performance over short stints, GT3 racing demands tyre management, traffic control, and long-run consistency across endurance distances.
Wendl explained that his strongest impression came during his first test session with Verstappen in Portugal at the end of 2025. It was there that he immediately recognised Verstappen’s unique working approach.
"I immediately understood how he works and prepares himself. I instantly realised this was a very special case, in a positive sense. I had never seen someone adapt so quickly," Wendl explained.
Mercedes also considers Verstappen’s involvement highly unusual because it is extremely rare for an active Formula 1 driver to fully commit to a GT endurance programme alongside the demands of a modern grand prix schedule.
"It is very special because he is doing this purely because of his love for racing. Motorsport is truly Max’s passion," added Wendl.
Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours debut has now become one of the biggest stories in motorsport this weekend. With rain and fog expected to dominate the race conditions, the challenge facing Verstappen is likely to become even tougher as he attempts to immediately fight for victory.
Apakah kemenangan Nurburgring 24H lebih impresif dari gelar F1 Verstappen?
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