Jules Gounon Recovers After Collapse Following Grueling Paul Ricard Stint

Jules Gounon, Max Verstappen's teammate for the upcoming Nürburgring 24 Hours, has revealed he collapsed after completing a demanding double driving stint while suffering from severe food poisoning at the GT World Challenge Europe opener. The French driver was treated by medical staff but managed to race and help his team secure a ninth-place finish.

Why it matters:

Gounon's ordeal highlights the extreme physical and mental demands placed on drivers in endurance racing, where pushing through illness can have serious health consequences. It also underscores the critical role of track medical teams and the resilience required to compete at the highest level of motorsport, even outside of Formula 1.

The details:

• Gounon developed food poisoning the night before the six-hour race at Circuit Paul Ricard, losing significant fluids and sleep.
• Despite his condition, he participated in the race for Verstappen.com Racing, sharing the car with Dani Juncadella and Chris Lulham.
• He pushed through what he called "one of the hardest" double stints of his career before collapsing upon exiting the car after his driving duties were complete.
• He was taken to the circuit's medical center, where he spent several hours receiving treatment to stabilize his condition before being released.
• In an Instagram post, Gounon thanked the medical team and his co-driver Juncadella for their support, framing the experience as a test of resilience.
• The team, which also featured Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll in a separate entry, finished the opening round in ninth position.

What's next:

Gounon is expected to continue his preparations for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where he will team up with Max Verstappen. Verstappen has indicated he may participate in the qualifying sessions for the iconic endurance event to support the team, as regular drivers Gounon and Juncadella have scheduling conflicts. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the physical toll of motorsport as the endurance racing season gets underway.