Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen receives new nickname after impressive Nürburgring 24 Hours debut
Max Verstappen left a huge impression during his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut — not only with his speed on track, but also with his incredible knowledge of motorsport. His Mercedes-AMG teammates even came up with a new nickname for him: “Maxipedia”.
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The four-time Formula 1 world champion competed in the legendary endurance race with his own Verstappen Racing team alongside Lucas Auer, Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon. Despite it being his first appearance in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Verstappen immediately proved he could match some of the most experienced GT drivers in the field.
However, it wasn’t only his driving that impressed the team. According to Gounon, Verstappen’s passion and understanding of motorsport stood out just as much.
“Max is a huge motorsport fan. When we speak about different categories or racing history, Dani and I joke that we call him ‘Maxipedia’ because he knows everything about motorsport,” Gounon told PlanetF1.com.
The French driver also praised the way Verstappen approached the challenge of racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
“To come into one of the toughest endurance races in the world and immediately be on the pace with drivers who have done this for years is something special. But it’s Max Verstappen,” he said.
Dani Juncadella was equally impressed by Verstappen’s attitude and technical ability.
“He’s incredibly talented. From the first day, he understood where the limit of the car was, and his technical feedback was very impressive. On top of that, he has no ego and always wants to improve,” the Spaniard explained.
Verstappen Racing ultimately missed out on victory after suffering technical problems late in the race, but Verstappen’s endurance racing debut still left a major impression throughout the paddock.
