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Red Bull praises fanatical Max Verstappen after Nordschleife win
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Highlights
- Marko supports Verstappen’s racing outside Formula 1 categories.
- Verstappen won his GT3 debut at Nürburgring Nordschleife.
- He obtained GT3 license between Grand Prix wins in Italy, Azerbaijan.
- Verstappen aims to race Nürburgring 24 Hours next year.
- Verstappen trails F1 leader Piastri by 69 points with seven races left.
- Red Bull praises Verstappen’s skills across multiple racing disciplines.
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko backs Max Verstappen’s extra-programme racing after his GT3 debut win at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, saying it suits him and doesn’t compromise his Formula 1 campaign.
At 28, Verstappen secured the GT3 licence between Grand Prix victories in Italy and Azerbaijan, underlining a busy schedule he manages alongside Red Bull duties.
Marko: Verstappen is a ‘fanatical racing driver’ who should not be restricted to F1.
Criticism focuses on workload and wellbeing. Marko, speaking on oe24, dismisses restrictions, calling Verstappen a fanatical racer. He notes his own history of competing across categories.
The four-hour race at the Green Hell saw Verstappen start third with Chris Lulham. He swept past two cars at Turn 1 to lead, a move Marko called unbelievable.
Turn 1 overtake from third to first set up Verstappen’s GT3 victory at the Nordschleife.
Once ahead, Verstappen built a gap exceeding a minute by mid-distance, displaying pace and traffic management that mirror his F1 strengths.
Lulham handled slow zones late on, protected track position, and sealed victory by 24 seconds. Marko highlighted gaps similar to those Verstappen often opens over teammates in F1.
The stance signals Red Bull’s confidence in its lead driver. The team balances risk with driver motivation, accepting outside programmes because performance data indicates negligible downside.
Red Bull views multi‑discipline running as a net performance positive, not a risk.
GT3 and Nordschleife licensing demands discipline, with staged permit requirements and traffic protocols. Verstappen’s quick progression underscores preparation rather than opportunism.
The next target is the Nürburgring 24 Hours, potentially next year. A Le Mans entry with Jos remains possible later, aided by Jos’s ongoing rally programme and race fitness.
In F1, Verstappen sits 69 points behind Oscar Piastri with seven races remaining. Singapore stands out as the only current F1 circuit where he hasn’t won.
Verstappen trails Piastri by 69 points with seven races to go.
That deficit intensifies scrutiny on extra commitments, yet Red Bull sees broader benefits, from racecraft sharpening to morale. The schedule now demands execution without errors.
Discussion about his medium‑term direction continues within the paddock, tied to incoming rules and engine plans, as explored in Verstappen Red Bull 2026.
Visual Summary
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
