George Russell also dreams of the Nürburgring 24 Hours, inspired by Max Verstappen’s recent adventure.
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Last weekend, Max Verstappen’s participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours went far beyond the usual endurance framework. Seeing a four-time F1 world champion line up on the Nordschleife captivated fans… but also several drivers from the paddock, starting with George Russell.
George Russell admitted that he would also like to try the experience one day. Even though he remains focused today on his main goal in Formula 1, the idea of participating in a legendary endurance race like the Nürburgring clearly attracts him.
Russell captivated by the Nürburgring challenge
Asked about a possible future participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Russell did not hide his enthusiasm. The Briton has been following this race for several years and considers this type of event as one of the most extreme challenges in motorsport.
“Yes, definitely one day, explained the Mercedes driver to the media. Honestly, seeing Max race there last weekend was really cool.”
The Mercedes driver believes that major endurance races have a unique dimension that F1 cannot fully reproduce. Between traffic management, the duration of the event, the changing conditions, and the difficulty of the German track, the Nürburgring represents an extraordinary challenge.
“I have followed this race in the past and these 24-hour events — there or at Bathurst for example — are simply brutal” he added.
Verstappen inspires the paddock
For several years, Max Verstappen has openly shown his interest in endurance and other disciplines of motorsport. Alongside F1, the Dutchman also multiplies sim racing sessions and has never hidden his desire to diversify his on-track experiences.
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His recent participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours has further strengthened this image of a driver passionate above all about motorsport competition in all its forms.
For Russell, Verstappen benefits from a particular situation in F1. With several world titles already to his name, the Red Bull driver can afford to invest more in personal projects outside the Grand Prix.
“We are all in a slightly different position than Max, Russell acknowledged. Obviously, we all pursue the goal of becoming world champion, but he is in a luxurious position that allows him to do what he loves.”
An opening towards endurance after F1?
Even though George Russell remains fully focused on his career in Formula 1, his statements show that endurance is attracting more and more drivers from the current grid.
The increasingly busy F1 calendar greatly limits opportunities to participate in other competitions, but several drivers are now looking towards events like Le Mans, Bathurst, or the Nürburgring to prepare for the future.
Russell himself seems to already have a clear idea of the races he would like to discover later in his career. And after the huge media impact caused by Verstappen in Germany, it is likely that other drivers will be tempted to follow the same path in the coming years.
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