Max Verstappen disqualified following victory in GT3 event at Nurburgring
Max Verstappen’s team faced disqualification after he secured a second GT3 race victory at the Nurburgring, just ahead of his first appearance in the renowned circuit’s 24-hour endurance race in May.
Verstappen believed he had triumphed in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie’s four-hour ADAC Barbarossapreis event alongside teammates Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon for Verstappen Racing, which operates a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
However, two hours later, the technical commission revealed that his team had utilized seven sets of tyres instead of the allowed six. Consequently, Verstappen’s team was disqualified, and the victory was awarded to Dan Harper and Jordan Pepper in the BMW M4 GT3 from Rowe Racing.
Verstappen has previously expressed strong criticism of F1’s new cars, which he has referred to as “Formula E on steroids” due to their increased focus on battery harvesting and boosts, making Saturday’s race a welcome diversion.
His team had secured pole position for the event and initially won on the track by over a minute, although the Dutch driver had to regain his position after losing the lead on the first lap.
He previously won a similar event with Chris Lulham in a Ferrari 296 GT3 during a highly publicized debut at the circuit last September.
This time, the four-time F1 world champion was racing with his own team to prepare for the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May.
Verstappen Racing has entered that race, scheduled for May 16 and 17.
Verstappen will team up with Juncadella, Gounon, and Lucas Auer for the event.
The German circuit, known as “The Green Hell,” has gained legendary status since its opening in 1927 but was removed from F1’s race calendar in 1976 due to safety concerns.
Verstappen has openly expressed his interest in exploring other racing disciplines beyond Formula 1, including participation in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours, and his increasing dissatisfaction with the series will likely enhance interest in his non-F1 endeavors moving forward.
Following the Chinese Grand Prix last week, Verstappen criticized F1’s new cars as “a joke” and stated that anyone who enjoys the sport’s new battery-boosted overtakes does not comprehend true racing.
The Red Bull driver, who is contracted with the team until 2028, has indicated that he would contemplate leaving F1 if he no longer finds enjoyment in it.
Source: espn.com
