Verstappen's Nordschleife bid earns praise from F1 rivals despite mechanical failure

Max Verstappen used the F1-free weekend between Miami and Montreal to tackle the Nordschleife in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, aiming to win the 24-hour classic. A late driveshaft failure denied victory, but his performance earned widespread praise from GT3 peers and F1 colleagues alike.

Why it matters:

Endurance racing remains a rare crossover for top F1 drivers, and Verstappen's commitment shows his hunger for challenges beyond Grands Prix. His attempt also highlights the growing respect between single-seater and GT disciplines, with rivals watching closely.

The details:

• Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar watched Verstappen's onboard camera into the night: "I fell asleep around 2am… it was good fun to watch." He noted the huge challenge of multi-class traffic on the narrow Nordschleife.
• Daniel Juncadella revealed Verstappen deliberately avoided the opening stint because he knew he would go all-out immediately, risking the car — a sign of self-awareness in 24-hour racing.
• Sergio Perez recalled his own Nordschleife adventures during his Formula BMW days, often using rental cars for hot laps — and admitted he rarely returned them without damage, laughing: "Not very often!"
• Fernando Alonso, a veteran of endurance wins, praised the traffic management, teamwork, and luck required. He said Verstappen's DNF was typical: "You need a couple of attempts."

What's next:

• Verstappen has made clear he will return to the Nordschleife if the F1 schedule allows, viewing the race as a personal milestone he wants to conquer.
• Hadjar expressed interest in racing there one day but stressed his focus remains on F1 for now.
• The broader paddock continues to view the Nordschleife as a bucket-list challenge, with Norris calling it “the most fun” Verstappen had all year.