Buemi hands Verstappen crucial Nurburgring 24 Hours advice: Le Mans prep is far more restricted

Max Verstappen has received a key insight from Sébastien Buemi ahead of his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut: preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours is significantly more restricted than what he's experiencing at the Nordschleife. The four-time world champion has thoroughly prepared for this weekend's endurance event, completing multiple races and test sessions at the legendary German circuit.

Why it matters:

Verstappen has made no secret of his desire to compete in the biggest endurance races, including the Le Mans 24 Hours. Buemi's advice highlights a crucial difference between the two events: while Verstappen can log extensive track time at the Nürburgring before race week, Le Mans offers no such opportunity until the actual event. This distinction could shape how the Red Bull star approaches any future Hypercar program.

The details:

• Buemi, a three-time Le Mans overall winner, pointed out that drivers cannot conduct significant testing at the Circuit de la Sarthe ahead of race week, unlike at the Nürburgring where smaller races and private sessions are allowed.
• Verstappen has fully immersed himself in GT3 racing, completing multiple Nordschleife events and test sessions to ensure readiness.
• According to Buemi, Verstappen is not just participating for experience: "He's going there for the win. He's going there to do a big race."
• The Dutchman's preparation includes hours of driving with his own team and car, replicating race conditions—an advantage not available for a Le Mans bid.

What's next:

Verstappen will make his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut this weekend with Team RMG, partnering seasoned endurance drivers. Buemi expects him to be a contender despite his relative inexperience in GT3 machinery. If Verstappen targets Le Mans in the future, he'll face a much steeper learning curve with minimal pre-event track time—a challenge Buemi believes the four-time F1 champion is capable of overcoming.