Max Verstappen, a four-time F1 champion, recently competed in a GT3 car at the Nurburgring, where he took pole position and won the four-hour race by a minute. However, his victory was short-lived as he was disqualified due to the team's excessive use of tires.
The disqualification was a result of a simple error on the part of the team, Winward Racing, which was making its debut in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). According to German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport, teams that don't regularly compete in the Eifel region have often stumbled over the specific rules. This was also the case for Winward Racing.
Verstappen's win was his second in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) series, this time driving a Red-Bull-sponsored Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Winward Racing, partnered with co-pilotes Joules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella. He took advantage of a caution-free qualifying lap to take the pole in 7:51.751 in dry conditions.
However, The Green Hell doesn't cut anyone any slack, and Verstappen was soon passed by the No.16 Audi driven by Christopher Haase at the start of the race. Despite this, Verstappen remained within striking distance, even briefly touching the rear of the Audi R8 LMS during lapped traffic.
The first-stint duel between Verstappen and Haase was intense, with both drivers pushing each other to the limit. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Verstappen overtook Haase on the long straight at Döttinger Höhe at the end of the first lap.
Verstappen's win was a result of his strong performance, but it also highlighted the complexities of GT3 racing. As team principal Christian Hohenadel noted, 'We will now analyze the day thoroughly, meticulously prepare for the upcoming races, and work with full concentration towards the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring,'
Verstappen's goal at the 'Ring is to race in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring May 14-17, dates that fall nicely in between the Miami Grand Prix and other upcoming events. He expressed his enthusiasm for racing at the Nurburgring, stating, 'It's super enjoyable,'
However, Verstappen's plans may be affected by the disqualification, as he will need to wait three weeks before competing again in another four-hour NLS race on April 11. Despite this, he remains committed to racing at the Nurburgring and is eager to take on the challenges of GT3 racing.
The incident serves as a reminder that even experienced drivers like Verstappen can make mistakes, especially when dealing with complex rules and regulations. As such, it's essential for teams to familiarize themselves with the specific rules of each circuit to avoid similar incidents in the future.
The incident highlights the complexities of GT3 racing and the need for teams to familiarize themselves with the specific rules of each circuit.
