Verstappen targets Nürburgring 24 Hours win after car failure ended debut

Max Verstappen said he was more excited than nervous as he headed out for his first stint in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. He felt ready to push at full pace, he said while speaking on P1 with Matt & Tommy.

Several shorter NLS races had formed part of his preparation. Verstappen said drivers held back in those races because of Balance of Performance tactics; he expected everyone to push fully in the 24-hour event. He recalled nearly going off on his out-lap.

Verstappen thinks Franz Hermann, the pseudonym he used for his first Nordschleife test day, is retired now that he appears on the entry list under his own name.

Verstappen said his team retired after the car failed, although everything seemed to point towards victory. The missed opportunity still stings him a little. He wants to return and win; a victory would almost be like ticking the race off his list, he said.