Fan poll: Verstappen's 2021 title remains greatest achievement over potential Nurburgring win

Most Formula 1 fans believe Max Verstappen's potential debut victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours would not surpass his greatest achievement, according to a RacingNews365 poll.

The four-time world champion qualified his Mercedes-AMG GT3 fourth for Saturday's endurance classic. While 31.9% of respondents said a Nürburgring win would be his top accomplishment, a clear majority disagreed.

Why it matters:

The poll highlights how the drama of Verstappen's first title still resonates more than any future feat. A Nürburgring victory would confirm his versatility as a racer, but it cannot match the historic weight of breaking Mercedes' dominance and becoming the Netherlands' first F1 champion.

By the numbers:

• 2021 championship: 36.2% of votes – secured on the final lap in Abu Dhabi, ending Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton's turbo-hybrid era stranglehold.
• 2023 championship: 18.1% – record 19 wins from 22 races.
• 2024 championship: 11% – his most recent title.
• 2022 championship: 2.8% – dominant season.
• Nürburgring 24h win (if happens): 31.9%.

The numbers show fans value the narrative and significance of a championship over a single endurance race victory, even one as prestigious as the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The big picture:

While a GT3 win would cement Verstappen's all-round racing credentials, the poll makes clear that nothing will surpass the drama and sporting significance of that maiden championship three years ago. For most fans, that remains the defining moment of his career.