Max Verstappen impresses in GT… to the point of sowing doubt among specialists. A secret technique could explain his performances.
Accustomed to dominating in Formula 1, Max Verstappen proves he can also shine elsewhere. During his recent participation on the Nordschleife, the Dutchman once again impressed against drivers much more experienced in the GT discipline.
Despite a retirement caused by a technical problem while he was in the lead, his overall performance did not go unnoticed. His pace, his consistency… but above all his ability to stay in contact with other cars in difficult conditions is intriguing.
A “trick” that intrigues specialists
It was Daniel Juncadella, his teammate, who started the fire. According to him, Verstappen uses a technique that even the most experienced GT drivers had never considered.
The most striking point? His ability to stay very close to a car in front of him, especially in corners, where aerodynamic turbulence (the famous “dirty air”) normally makes the task extremely difficult.
Some observers, like commentator Peter Mackay, put forward a first hypothesis: Verstappen would have identified a specific zone in the turbulence, allowing him to follow a car without excessively degrading his front tires.
In other words, he would exploit a “flaw” in the disturbed airflow, an area where precision and aerodynamic understanding make all the difference. But this theory mainly explains the result… without really revealing the method.
A specific driving technique?
Another avenue mentioned concerns his driving style. Verstappen could voluntarily slightly unbalance the rear of his car at the entry of corners.
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The objective? To relieve the front axle and limit the impact of turbulence on the steering, which would allow him to maintain grip where other drivers suffer. A subtle approach, almost instinctive, but difficult to master without an exceptional level of confidence.
GT veteran Jeroen Bleekemolen, however, tempers these theories. According to him, certain techniques mentioned — such as left-foot braking combined with slight acceleration — are already known and used.
“Many drivers do that” he reminds us.
But he recognizes a key point: Verstappen’s extreme confidence could allow him to push these techniques to a rarely achieved level.
A mystery still intact
In the end, everyone agrees on one observation: Verstappen does something different… but no one can yet say exactly what.
This grey area only fuels the fascination around the four-time world champion, capable of adapting and innovating in any discipline.
Perhaps the truth will emerge during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where Verstappen will be even more observed. Until then, the GT paddock continues to speculate. One thing is certain: even outside F1, Verstappen remains a benchmark… and a headache for his opponents.
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