Verstappen reacts to Nordschleife DQ after dominant win

Max Verstappen has addressed his team's post-race disqualification from a dominant victory at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, attributing it to a simple pit stop practice error with tyres. Despite the setback, the reigning F1 champion emphasized the overall success and enjoyment of the GT racing weekend, contrasting it with his recent criticisms of Formula 1.

Why it matters:

For a driver of Verstappen's caliber, competing and winning in other disciplines reinforces his elite status, but a procedural DQ highlights that even the best teams are vulnerable to operational mistakes. His candid comments about genuinely enjoying GT racing also put a spotlight on the current debate about driver satisfaction and the spectacle in F1 versus other series.

The details:

• Verstappen, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3, secured pole by two seconds and his team won the four-hour NLS2 race by a commanding 59-second margin.
• The victory was stripped after the race because the team used seven sets of tyres, one more than the permitted six.
• The infringement occurred during qualifying when mechanics, while practicing pit stops, fitted an illegal extra set to the car.
• Verstappen called it a "small mistake" but noted it might serve as a useful wake-up call for the team, stating, "it probably puts the team on point."
• He praised the team's professionalism and his teammates, Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, concluding the overall experience was "really fun."

What's next:

Verstappen's primary focus remains on his F1 title defense with Red Bull, but his foray into GT racing is a significant personal project.

• This event was part of his preparation for the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours race in May.
• His revelation that he was jumping out of the car "smiling" after each stint underscores his passion for this form of racing, suggesting we may see more of his GT appearances in the future, schedule permitting.