Thiim welcomes Verstappen to Portimão with a ‘real race car’ joke

Nicki Thiim paired praise for Max Verstappen’s appetite for racing with a joke about his recent machinery at the GT World Challenge finale in Portimão.

Asked by GTWorld whether the presence of a four-time world champion changed his approach to the weekend, Aston Martin driver Thiim laughed and answered, “No, not really.” He said he admired Verstappen’s racing instinct and his willingness to race whatever the cost or car.

Thiim joked that Verstappen probably wanted to drive a “real race car” instead of the “electric things” he had been driving recently. He called it fantastic to have Verstappen at the finale and expected many people to watch with interest.

Verstappen is taking the wheel of a Mercedes GT3 for the first time since the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, sharing the car with Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham. Verstappen Racing qualified 15th for the finale.