Max Verstappen's Nurburgring 24 Hours bid is a thrilling spectacle, drawing envy from his F1 colleagues. The event promises to be a spectacle, with record numbers of fans tuning in, either at the sold-out event or via the broadcast. Among them will be Verstappen's F1 peers, some of whom might be tinged with envy. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri recently tested the Nordschleife, with Norris enthusing about the experience, citing it as the most fun he's had all year. Norris, who has a background in endurance racing, has been studying Verstappen's previous NLS exploits to bolster his virtual knowledge of the track. He's also been watching GT races featuring Verstappen, gaining insights into the circuit. Norris and Kimi Antonelli have expressed interest in following Verstappen's GT racing footsteps, indicating a growing trend among F1 drivers to explore the world of GT racing.
Oliver Bearman, a Haas driver, is a regular viewer of the NLS series, and George Russell, a Mercedes frontrunner, has designs on competing at the Ring in the future. Russell, however, has yet to secure a request to team boss Toto Wolff to run an F1 car around the Nordschleife, a feat last achieved by Sebastian Vettel in 2023. Russell's team-mate and current championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, seems closer to making it to the Nordschleife. Antonelli has a history of testing and racing a Mercedes GT3 through his father's GT team, and he's already plotting a path to obtaining a Nordschleife A-permit. He's expressed a desire to do an endurance race with Verstappen, highlighting the growing crossover between F1 and GT racing.
Verstappen's participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours is a testament to his versatility and passion for racing. The event showcases the appeal of GT racing to F1 drivers, with Norris, Piastri, Bearman, Russell, and Antonelli all showing interest. The race, which starts on Saturday at 3 pm, will be broadcast on YouTube, providing a platform for fans worldwide to witness the action. The Nurburgring 24 Hours is a significant event in the racing calendar, and Verstappen's involvement is a highlight, drawing attention to the growing popularity of GT racing among F1 drivers and fans alike.
