Max Verstappen makes race decision away from F1 after Australian Grand Prix frustration

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has announced that he will be taking part in the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

The Dutch driver has been practicing around the Nurburgring track in Germany, and took part in GT3 races last year.

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The event will not interrupt the 28-year-old’s busy schedule as it will take place between the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix.

He has shared his love for the circuit and said: “The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a special place. There’s no other track like it.

“The 24h Nürburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m really thrilled we can make it happen now.

“Last year, I was able to get my DMSB Permit Nordschleife and participate in NLS9, that we won.

“That preparation is very valuable, as we have learned a lot that we can take into our programme this year with NLS2 and the 24-hour race.

“We’ve got a strong line-up with Dani, Jules and Lucas and great support from Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.

“Now it’s about putting in the right preparations before the events, so we can maximise everything in the races.”

Verstappen will compete alongside Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon, Lucas Auer in a Red Bull branded Mercedes, an intriguing prospect given the Dutchman was linked with the German team last summer.

Walter Hornung, the race director of the Nurburgring has said: “We are delighted that Max Verstappen will be competing at our track.

“Like all the other starters across the various vehicle classes, he has fallen under the spell of this special race track.

Avalon.red

“The fact that he is taking his start seriously and approaching it in an incredibly professional manner is already evident from his intensive preparation.

“He went through the normal qualification process without any special treatment, prepared himself with drives on the Nordschleife, completed the mandatory e-learning and familiarised himself intensively with the track with countless SimRacing laps.

“As organisers, we are just as excited as countless fans around the globe to see how well he will manage the transition from Formula 1 racing cars to this year’s particularly competitive GT3 class on the world’s toughest race track.

“The Nordschleife is the ultimate challenge in motorsport – and Max is taking it on!”

Verstappen finished sixth at the Australian Grand Prix, while his British rival, George Russell, won convincingly in his Mercedes.

And he immediately sparked talk about a potential exit from Formula 1 due to the changes in the new regulations.

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Red Bull’s No.1 driver is unhappy with the new cars, previously claiming they were like Formula E cars.

Following the Australian Grand Prix, the Dutchman said: “I love racing, but you can only take so much.

“I know that they’re, well, I think they’re willing to listen, the FIA and F1, but I just hope that there is some action because it’s not that I’m the only one saying it – a lot of people are speaking the same.

“If it’s drivers, fans, we just want the best for the sport. It’s not that we are critical just to be critical.

“We are critical for a reason, we want it to be Formula 1, you know, proper Formula 1 on steroids.

“Today, of course, again, that was not the case.”

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“They ask questions, and I give my opinion of what I would like to see and what I think is better for the sport because I do care about it, I do love racing, and I want it to be better than this, right?

“So let’s see what we can do. I hope that even during this year, maybe we can come up with some different solutions so it becomes more enjoyable for everyone.”

The Chinese Grand Prix is this weekend with Verstappen hoping to improve on his performance.