Max Verstappen discovered one of the most feared aspects of the Nordschleife ahead of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. And the four-time world champion was not spared by the extreme conditions.
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Max Verstappen continues his intensive preparation ahead of his highly anticipated debut at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The Red Bull driver took part Thursday evening in a night testing session on the legendary Nordschleife, an experience he is not likely to forget.
Used to the ultra-modern F1 circuits, the Dutchman this time discovered a much wilder environment. Between darkness, rain, and fog, the conditions were particularly tricky on the 25 kilometers of the German track.
The 28-year-old driver admitted that this first night experience on the circuit was much more complicated than he had imagined.
“The conditions were really difficult, he explained after the session. Especially when I was driving in the dark. There was a lot of rain, and with the fog as well as the steam rising from the track, I could barely see.”
Almost zero visibility in some sectors
The main challenge for Verstappen was especially reading the track. On the Nordschleife, grip changes are constant, and in the rain, the situation becomes even more unpredictable.
The four-time world champion confessed that he was sometimes unable to identify the wettest areas of the circuit. In these conditions, it was impossible to fully attack.
“You can’t see where there is a lot of water on the track. So you just have to drive slower” he detailed.
Despite everything, this session was of vital importance for the Red Bull driver. The goal was not to set a spectacular time, but mainly to gain experience in an extreme context before the race start on Saturday.
“For me, it was important to drive a bit in the dark and get used to it, especially in terms of vision” Verstappen added.
The Nürburgring spectators add an extra challenge
Beyond the weather, Verstappen also discovered another unique feature of the Nürburgring: the atmosphere around the track. Tens of thousands of fans camp all along the circuit, creating an impressive atmosphere… but sometimes disturbing for the drivers.
The Dutchman explained that the many lights around the track could easily be confused with marshal signals.
“There are a lot of green and yellow lights everywhere. You have to be constantly careful. At times, you almost feel like there is a yellow or green flag.”
This situation becomes even more delicate at night, when visual references gradually disappear. Verstappen therefore believes that this first night immersion will be very useful for the race.
“It’s quite strange at first and you have to get used to it. You also have to know where all the marshal posts are. In the dark, it’s even harder to see, so it was important to do these laps.”
Verstappen already among the favorites
Despite this eventful discovery, Verstappen arrives at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with great ambitions. His team already impressed during qualifying, securing a solid fourth place on the grid.
Paired with Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Team Verstappen, the Red Bull driver is clearly among the contenders for victory.
Now it remains to be seen if the F1 world champion can tame one of the most dangerous and unpredictable circuits in motorsport during a 24-hour event.
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