Again in 2024, Pink Bull banned Max Verstappen from participating in sim racing occasions throughout System 1 weekends. However the Dutchman has since discovered a brand new aspect hustle.
Lately, his focus typically shifts lots of of miles away within the evenings after F1 races to his personal ardour mission: the Verstappen.com Racing GT3 staff.
Within the GT World Problem Europe, Verstappen is excess of simply the identify above the door. As Daniel Juncadella – who will quickly share a cockpit with Verstappen on the Nurburgring 24 Hours – revealed, the four-time World Champion is deeply embedded within the information evaluation, even within the midst of his personal grand prix weekends.
Verstappen brings a technical mindset to GT racing that’s nearly revolutionary for the paddock. “He has such a excessive technical strategy. Issues which are working in System 1 – he tries to deliver that to GT3 racing,” Juncadella advised Motorsport.com Germany.
Juncadella, who contests the total GTWC Europe season alongside Verstappen’s sim-racing protege Chris Lulham (supported by Jules Gounon for the 5 Endurance rounds), described how Verstappen stays related to his staff.
“That’s what drives him. That’s his goal proper now, professionally,” the Spaniard defined. “He’s even trying into our information from the System 1 weekends and says: ‘Do that, do this!’ It’s fairly cool to witness as a result of it provides you loads of motivation to excel as a racing driver. The extent of ardour he brings into this… I really feel I have to be at my greatest to make him comfortable.”
#3 Mercedes-AMG Workforce Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon
Photograph by: Jan Brucke/VLN
Generally, nevertheless, the perfectionist goes a step too far. Juncadella admits with a smile: “Generally it’s a bit an excessive amount of. I believe that is over-engineering, and a automobile like that is fairly easy compared.”
“So I inform him: ‘Max, it’s GT racing, simply do not go an excessive amount of into element.’ But it surely’s good to have a distinct standpoint. With a man like this, it isn’t solely his abilities, but additionally his mind.”
Having a driver of his calibre contribute his information and keenness offers a large psychological increase. In line with Juncadella, Verstappen is usually extra nervous watching his GTWC staff than he’s behind the wheel of his personal Pink Bull.
Mission Eifel: The AMG veteran’s secret weapon
The mission’s subsequent final litmus take a look at looms on the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Verstappen.com Racing will subject a real “dream staff” in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 operated by the skilled Winward squad: Verstappen himself, Juncadella, Gounon, and Lucas Auer.
Regardless of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 being successfully a decade outdated, the quartet sees an actual path to victory within the “Inexperienced Hell.” Juncadella factors to the reliability and consistency of the platform:
“The automobile could be very established. Even when we’ve not been as profitable recently on the Nurburgring 24h, you’re at all times within the combine with the AMG. You by no means see a race the place you say we’re fully off. With this automobile, you at all times have an opportunity. It may not be simple, however the likelihood is there.”
#3 Mercedes-AMG Workforce Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen
Photograph by: Max Verstappen
Preparation on the Nordschleife was transient – Juncadella solely managed to clock miles throughout the second race of the Nurburgring Endurance Collection. Nevertheless, the immense expertise of the motive force line-up mixed with the virtually medical distant assist from Verstappen might be the deciding issue.
One other beacon of hope is the automobile’s Stability of Efficiency (BoP). The Mercedes-AMG GT3’s air restrictors have grown to a report 2x 34.5 mm, whereas its weight has remained fixed at 1,355 kg for the reason that introduction of the Evo mannequin in 2020.
The restrictor measurement has steadily elevated from 2x 33 mm in 2020 to 2x 33.5 mm in 2021, reaching 2x 34 mm in 2022 – a price it held till 2025. This 12 months, it’s permitted to run at 2x 34.5 mm. Consequently, the entire consumption space has expanded from 1,710.6 mm² in 2020 to 1,869.7 mm² in 2026 – a 9.3% improve in floor space.
In fact, the AMG required a serving to hand, provided that a whole technology of latest GT3 equipment from rival producers has debuted for the reason that 2020 replace. However with the mixture of Verstappen’s technical oversight, Winward Racing’s execution, and a beneficial BoP, 2026 would possibly lastly be the 12 months the veteran “star” shines brightest once more.
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