When the race weekend in Japan is over, an unexpected five-week spring break begins for Formula 1 and Max Verstappen. Due to the war in the Middle East, the planned Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not take place and there will be no racing in April. At least, not in the premier class. Verstappen could potentially make another trip to the Nürburgring, in preparation for his participation in the 24-hour race in May.
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Between the Grands Prix of China and Japan, Verstappen already got into his new Mercedes-AMG GT3 and participated in NLS2, a four-hour race on the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife. Together with teammates Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon, he was immediately dominant. Although the victory was later declared invalid, the race did provide good preparation for the 24-hour race in mid-May. Will Verstappen use the free weekends in April to prepare even better for his 24-hour debut?
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“I will not participate in NLS3,” Verstappen told the media in Suzuka. The next NLS race is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, but the Dutchman’s racing team has other obligations then. “My team is racing at Paul Ricard then, so that won’t work,” he explained. In the following weekend, the qualifying sessions for the 24-hour race take place. On Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, two qualifying sessions and two races will be held. Does Verstappen want to travel to the Eifel for that? “At the moment, only Lucas (Auer, ed.) is in the car for those races,” the four-time F1 champion said. “I would feel a bit sorry for him if he has to do everything alone,” he said tellingly. “Dani (Juncadella, ed.) and Jules (Gounon, ed.) can’t, so it would actually make sense if I joined in.”
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