Formula One racers express admiration for Verstappen's impressive driving performance at Nürburgring.
In the heart of racing season, Max Verstappen, the third-place driver in the World Championship with a 94-point deficit, made a unique move that has stirred conversations within the Formula 1 community. The Red Bull Racing driver ventured into the "Green Hell" of the Nürburgring to obtain his Nordschleife permit.
Verstappen is not alone in his fascination for the legendary German track. Active Formula 1 drivers, such as Liam Lawson and Oliver Bearman, have privately explored the Nürburgring Nordschleife during their careers. Lawson, a former DTM driver and current Red Bull pilot, has driven two races on the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit and the entire track with Alex Albon. Bearman, a former Formula 4 driver, had his first taste of the Nürburgring at the age of 15, giving driving tips to his father from the passenger seat due to his age.
The paddock has expressed praise and admiration for Verstappen's participation in the Nürburgring race. Nico Hülkenberg, for instance, admires Verstappen's passion for racing, as he participates in Formula 1, sim racing, and GT races. However, the rest of the Formula 1 field does not plan to follow Verstappen into the Nürburgring at this time.
Rookies in Formula 1, such as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, are advised to focus fully on their careers, as their careers are in different phases compared to Verstappen. Piastri acknowledges that time is a rare commodity in Formula 1 and would give necessary respect if he were to participate in Le Mans or the Nürburgring in the future. Norris, who is involved in a title fight, is unsure about participating in the 24-hour race in France, as McLaren team boss Zak Brown has discussed a potential start for Piastri and Norris.
In the past, Verstappen has demonstrated his versatility by competing in endurance races. In 2015, he competed in the 6 Hours of Spa and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He even won Le Mans with Porsque, GT colleagues Nick Tandy, and Earl Bamber. Fernando Alonso, another Formula 1 veteran, has also tasted success in endurance racing, having won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 Miles of Sebring.
However, Alonso does not find the idea of participating in 24-hour races on the Nürburgring appealing. In contrast, Isack Hadjar, the CEO of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, has emphasised the importance of rookies fully concentrating on their sport. He believes that their careers are in different phases compared to veterans like Verstappen and Alonso.
In a surprising twist, during one of his laps at the Nürburgring, Bearman's mother screamed the whole time, and on the second lap, they drove faster, but the brake fluid came out of the brake calipers, forcing them to stop after two laps. Despite the setback, it seems that the allure of the Nürburgring is too strong to resist for some Formula 1 drivers.
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