Max Verstappen has left a strong impression on the Mercedes racing outfit following his dedication to GT racing.
Verstappen is taking part in his first Nürburgring 24 Hours race this weekend, having completed a handful of outings at the Nordschleife over recent months in preparation.
The four-time champion is driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car for the event and is set to start from fourth on the grid.
His entry has generated increased interest in GT racing, drawing praise from Mercedes’ head of customer racing, Stefan Wendl.
“Thanks to Max, many fans who normally only follow Formula 1 are now also watching,” Wendl told De Telegraaf.
“They see that this is another completely different aspect of motorsport, including exciting wheel-to-wheel fights. They may not be used to that anymore.
“It’s great to see what Max is bringing about. And that even more people now feel how great this event is, with that special atmosphere along the track.
“And then there are the amateur racers who are chasing their dreams by driving here and then also being in the same race as Verstappen.”
Casting his memory back to his first interaction with Verstappen during a test day at the end of 2025, Wendl detailed that it was the first indication of the Dutchman’s commitment to the project.
“I met Max in December last year during our first test day in Portugal,” he said.
“I learned more about his approach and how he prepares. And I knew immediately: ‘okay, this is a case apart’. In a positive sense, that is.
“I had never seen anything like it before, someone who adapts so quickly.
“Just as it is very special anyway that a current Formula 1 driver goes through this program, simply because he enjoys it so much and racing is his passion.”
