Verstappen Returns to Nürburgring with His Ferrari and Alonso Has a Very Clear Opinion About It
The four-time Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen, continues his preparation for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2026. Fernando Alonso, a driver always willing to compete in different championships, has spoken about it.
Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen have always gotten along well and have admired each other. Besides their talent as drivers, they share the constant desire to have a steering wheel in their hands, no matter what type of car it is.
The veteran Spanish driver demonstrated this when he combined Formula 1 with the Indianapolis 500 in 2017, and with the WEC the following year. Later, in 2019 and 2020, he left the top category to continue accumulating successes in the World Endurance Championship and debut in the Dakar Rally.
"Maybe for him, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is next year. I suppose he has to do Le Mans, Sebring"
Max Verstappen is taking a similar path. For now, the Dutchman remains very focused on Formula 1, but he doesn't miss the opportunity to try other things during free weekends. In this case, with his GT3 Ferrari as preparation for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring next year, which takes place on the legendary Nordschleife.
Alonso's Opinion on Verstappen
Many drivers on the grid might think it's a mistake not to rest between grands prix, but not Fernando Alonso. For the 44-year-old veteran driver, spending free weekends in a kart or another type of vehicle is the best way to relax.
Moreover, for the Asturian, it also has to do with the desire to transcend beyond Formula 1, competing and winning the best races in the world to leave a mark in the history books. Similarly, for Alonso, the process of learning a new discipline from scratch is very satisfying.
"It's more of a question for him, but it's nice when you try a different championship in motorsport. You have to learn from the best. You go there, and there are drivers who have more experience than you," points out the two-time Le Mans winner.
"They know different lines in wet, dry, more strategies, procedures, or driver changes. There are many things involved in a new adventure, and they have more experience than you. So it's nice to learn from scratch," reiterates the Daytona winner.
Fernando Alonso believes that Max Verstappen is driven by winning the best races, just like him, and has decided to start with one of the classics of touring and GT racing.
"I think you want to win the best races in the world and the most prestigious races in the world. Maybe for him, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is next year. I suppose he has to do Le Mans, Sebring, or whatever is on his mind, and the same goes for all the best races in the world," concludes Fernando Alonso.
Max Verstappen has already expressed on several occasions his desire to compete in Le Mans, even pointing to Fernando Alonso as a potential partner in the future. There is no doubt it would be a great gift for motorsport fans.
Fuente: GPblog.com