Max Verstappen had a taste of a slow start in his GT racing debut, seizing the opportunity during a break between the Italian and Azerbaijani Grands Prix. The Formula 1 world champion, 27, ventured into endurance racing at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany for the ADAC Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie rounds seven and eight.
In contrast to his recent pole position victory in Monza, where he conquered the race, Verstappen encountered a rough start as he was overtaken by seven cars right after turn one. The reason behind this was evident in the race start footage, showing Verstappen noticeably slower than his competitors.
The Dutch driver, racing under ‘detuned’ conditions in a Red Bull-themed Porsche Cayman GT4 #980, is yet to acquire his full racing license for Nurburgring. Following a successful test, Verstappen obtained his B permit on Friday, enabling his participation in the weekend race after previously setting an unofficial lap record at the circuit in May under the alias ‘Franz Hermann.’
Until Verstappen attains his A permit, his car must undergo artificial speed reduction, leaving him with a power deficit of 130 horsepower compared to rivals in the same Cup3 class. Nevertheless, Verstappen managed an impressive lap time of 10:21.591, outpacing the next-best GT4 competitor by over 25 seconds, securing a sixth-place finish in his class and 27th overall.
To finalize his full license eligibility, Verstappen must complete 14 incident-free laps in his GT4. If successful, he plans to return in two weeks and compete in a Ferrari 296 GT3 during the 57th ADAC Barbarossapreis.
Former F1 star Ralf Schumacher, brother of the renowned Michael Schumacher, criticized the delay in granting Verstappen his full license, deeming it ’embarrassing’ given his exceptional driving skills. Verstappen expressed his relaxation and enjoyment in exploring other racing categories, emphasizing the importance of cherishing time and family amidst his professional pursuits.
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