Max Verstappen’s passion for motorsport runs deep, that was already clear. However, teammate Daniel Juncadella – who will race the 24 Hours of Nürburgring together with the Dutchman this coming weekend – reveals just how far it goes. ‘Even during Formula 1 weekends, he watches our data,’ reveals the Spaniard, who laughs as he tells how the world champion sometimes needs to be slowed down.
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Max Verstappen will swap his RB22 for a GT3 car this coming weekend during his first endurance race. The Dutchman is participating for the first time in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, together with teammates Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella, and Lucas Auer. Although Verstappen cannot always get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 himself due to Formula 1 commitments, Juncadella reveals that the world champion always follows everything closely.
“He has such a technical approach,” the Spaniard reveals about Verstappen’s involvement with his GT3 team, to Motorsport.com. “Things that work in Formula 1, he tries to bring to GT3 racing as well. Even during Formula 1 weekends, he watches our data and says, ‘Do this, or do that.’ It’s great to experience because it motivates you enormously as a driver to get the most out of it. The passion he puts into it. Because of that, I also feel I have to be at my best to keep him satisfied.”
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‘Then I say: ‘Max, it’s just GT racing’
Still, Verstappen sometimes goes a bit too far. “Sometimes it’s a bit too much,” Juncadella says laughing. “Then I think: this is over-engineering, because a GT3 car is relatively simple in comparison. Then I say: ‘Max, it’s GT racing, don’t go too deep into the details.’ But it’s actually good to have such a different perspective. With someone like him, it’s not just about his speed, but also about his brain.”
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