Thousands of fans gathered at the nürburgring-nordschleife on Saturday for Max Verstappen, who immediately won his first gt3 race. The Hysteria Surrounding the Four-Time F1 World Champion Turned the Usualy Quiet Nordschleife Into A Public Festival.
Fog hangs over the Eifel on Saturday Morning at 8:30 am When Qualifying for the Ninth Race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) is Scheduled to Begin. The Start is Delayed by 45 minutes, But Thousands of Fans Who Came Specifically for Max Verstappen Are Already Standing in The Paddock.
For 25 euros you can buy a ticket that allows you to go literally anywhere: in the pits, on the grid, along the track. This makes the NLS Unique and Unpolished, a Championship Where the Organization Explicitly Places Responsibility on the Visitors.
That Almost Always Goes Well, But with Verstappen Involved It is a Slightly Different Story. Hundreds of People Gather in Front of his Pit Box Early in the Morning. There are Dutch People Too, But Certainly Not In The Majority.
An Highly Gomax Flag Hangs Opposite The Pit Box. Everyone Wants To Catch A Glimpse of the Four-Time World Champion in Formula 1, Who is Driving A GT3 Race for the First Time in His Career.
‘Nordschleife is Times More Intense Than Monaco’
As soon as he approaches his ferrari 296 gt3, two bodyguards join him. They Stay Close to Him All Day and Clear A Path For Him Through The Crowds. Hundreds of People Gather Around the Red Bull-Colored Ferrari on the Grid.
It is an impressive scene, but the chaos remains remarkable well organized: Just before the start, German officials Direct the public neatly off the track with whistles and decisive gestures.
“Finally, the world champion has also discovered that this is the most beautiful track in the world,” Says Tom Coronel with a Broad Smile. The 52-Year-old Driver Has Been Driving on the Nordschleife for a Quarter of a Century and Knows Better than Anyone How Difficult the Track is.
“The Intensity here cannot be compared to anything else. This circuit is Times More intense than monaco or macau. It’s great that Verstappen is now experimental that too.”
Verstappen Wins in Dominant Fashion
The way he wins is reminiscent of his most dominant days in Formula 1. Verstappen Starts Third, immediately takes the lead at the start and builds a lead of more than a minute in Two Hours. He then Drives Into the Pits and Lets Teammate Chris Lulham Finish The Job.
“He is the best driver in the world, so i didn’t expect anything else,” Says Frank Stippler, aka ‘Mr. Nordschleife’, who finishes third. No one has won as many races on the notorious german racetrack as he has been. At the Beginning of the Race He was Still Able to Follow Verstappen Somewhat, But After Two Hours of Racing the Fifty-Year-old Driver was Seventy Seconds Beind the Dutchman.
“We are racing against a sim racing generation. He knows the track, he knows the car. Everything was just very good. I actual assumed they would win. They didnn’t make a fog and drove it home neatly.”
The Special Thing About His Outing is that Verstappen is not only the star for the public this time, but also in the field of drivers. About 350 drivers are on the starting list. Many Want to speak to Verstappen, Shake Hands, Take A Selfie. For some, it is unreal to sauddenly be driving on the same asphalt as the great superstar in Formula 1.
Jan Jaap van Roon, Coronel’s Teammate, Remains Level-Headed. “For me, he is just one of the many cars that pass by,” he says. “I or. To pull over for gt3s. But it is nice that Verstappen is Bringing Extra Attention to these races. This event deserves that too.”
Verstappen Visible Enjoys His GT3 Outing
The Race is Barely about When Verstappen is loudly Sung to by the Fans Under The Podium: “Du du Du Du, Max Verstappen.” He Smiles, Waves and Visible Enjoys It, Although His Champagne Bottle Refuses to Open. The Contrast Could Hardly Be Greater: In Formula 1 He is the Superstar WHO is Virtualy Unappreaxable, here he is part of a chaotic, Almost Folksy Form of Motorsport Experience.
In Theory, fans can just walk on parts of the track, because there are no fences everywhere almost the almost 21 kilometers long circuit. In The Pit Lane they walk mechanics and drivers, talking to whoever they want. There is a cordon only at Verstappen’s pit box, and that is necessary.
It is clear to everyone that Verstappen’s arrival has temporarily changed the NLS. What is normally a relatively Quiet Championship for the True Enthusiast Turns Into a Large Public Festival as Soon As the Four-Time World Champion Makes His Appearance.
“Hopefully I can drive here more,” Says Verstappen, Shortly Before Leaving the Paddock. “The 24 Hours of the Nürburgring is the big goal. You need experience for that, and this is the perfect way to gain that.”
A foggy Saturday grew into a day that the nordschleife will not soon forget. The Victory itsself Surprized No One, but the context made it unique: a reigning Formula 1 World Champion Who Wins A GT3 Race in Between His Season. Next week The Singapore Grand Prix Awaits, The Sixth Racing Weekend or Motorsport Enthusiast Max Verstappen.