Verstappen prepares for the Nürburgring
This weekend F1 was supposed to race in Jeddah, but the ongoing war in Iran forced the Circus to cancel the April races. The decision allowed the drivers to rest at least from a logistical point of view: Max Verstappen, in this case too, will be an exception. The Dutch champion will indeed go to the Nürburgring to compete in two more preparation races for the 24 Hours (scheduled for May 16 and 17).
The Red Bull driver is eager to face the 24 Hours in the legendary “Green Hell” behind the wheel of his Mercedes-AMG GT3 after the cruel disqualification a month ago. And above all, he is not afraid of the Nordschleife, the version of the Nürburgring where F1 has not raced since the very serious accident that happened to Niki Lauda in 1976.
Verstappen’s words
“I am aware that I could have a bad accident there, but I am not afraid: in fact, I really like driving there, it makes me smile. And I want to have fun. Every time I get out of the car, I am happy. I know it is a dangerous track, but I am happy to take that risk,” said the Dutchman. “For F1 it was very dangerous, especially in the ’60s and ’70s, but since then the circuit has changed a lot. Now, I think it’s fine. And then a dangerous accident can happen anywhere, even at Suzuka.”
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As for this weekend’s races, Verstappen will use them as a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours: “I need a bit more experience overall. I would maybe like to drive towards evening or almost at night, just to get an idea of what to expect, and I can only get that from these races. Otherwise, it’s about procedures with the team, to be all aligned, and about setting up the car. I’m not worried.”
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