Dani Juncadella reveals Max Verstappen’s honest admission right before Nurburgring 24 Hours debut

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Dani Juncadella, who rode alongside Max Verstappen at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, explained why the F1 legend didn’t want to start the race.

Despite Verstappen’s heartbreaking loss at Nurburgring this past weekend, there were a lot of highlights from the Dutch driver’s first attempt at the legendary endurance race.

Shepherding Team Verstappen, the four-time world champion helped his side take a commanding lead at one point during the race, courtesy of some brilliant driving.

With the fanfare he managed to generate, Verstappen helped bring excitement to German motorsport, thanks in large part to how he approached the race.

But his teammate, Dani Juncadella, explained recently that the Dutch driver wasn’t all that confident heading into the race, making a specific request one night before the event began.

READ MORE: Nurburgring 24 Hours winner is in ‘close contact’ with another F1 driver over entering next year

Max Verstappen asked Dani Juncadella to start 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Speaking to SoyMotor, Team Verstappen driver Dani Juncadella explained how Max Verstappen approached him after qualifying with a specific request.

Knowing his competitive tendencies as a driver, Verstappen asked Juncadella to start the race, as he would have pushed himself and the car too hard very early on if he was in a good position, which would have jeopardised the team’s overall performance.

“There was a conversation I remember with Max because, in principle, Max raced in all the preparation races and obviously, the story of Max racing there. Imagine that anything happens on the first lap, at the start, and Max doesn’t get in the car.

“At least I can run. But on Friday night after qualifying, he came up to me and said, ‘It’s better if you go out because I know myself and it’s a 24-hour race. If on the first lap, I’m in fourth place, I’m going to want to fight everyone. So it’s better if you go out.’

“It was good for me because I felt confident after he said that he wanted me to start.”

In the end, Verstappen’s decision proved to be the right one, as he managed to help the team far more by not starting and gaining an advantage later in the race, even if the effort was nullified by a driveshaft issue.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen pushed Nurburgring rival onto the grass after dispute over GT3 lap record

Do you want to see Max Verstappen attempt the 24 Hours of Nurburging again?

Team Verstappen finished 38th after a driveshaft issue cost them the lead!

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Dani Juncadella explains how Max Verstappen treated GT3 teammates compared to other F1 drivers

Speaking further in the interview, Juncadella spoke about how well Verstappen managed to integrate into the team, and it came thanks in large part to how he treated the other GT3 drivers compared to other Formula 1 drivers.

“I think that’s what’s important. It’s super important to know how to integrate into a team. I believe there are two clear reasons why he integrates so well. I think he has a fairly high emotional intelligence.

“He’s someone who is a really communicative person and likes to talk about racing, share experiences, and stories. He’s a very nice, normal guy, very open and direct. He looks you in the face, in the eye, and makes you feel like you’re on the same level.

“This is something that is strange because I’ve met many Formula 1 drivers. When you talk to them, it seems that, without meaning to belittle anyone in particular, we live in different worlds. You feel like they’re way above you.

“It’s not that they do it because they feel superior, but I don’t know. I feel like you’re in a different environment with them.

“But with Max, and this is the second reason, he is a driver who follows many motorsport races. He is someone who is constantly watching races… These are things that allow him to integrate into this world very well, to know everyone, everything about all the drivers who race in the GT World Challenge.

“He knows everything! That puts him level with everyone. He knows he is a four-time Formula 1 world champion and surely a supernatural talent, but he knows our careers, he has seen our races, our failures, and our successes.”

It’s clear that GT racing is a passion for Verstappen. In fact, Verstappen is planning a return to Nurburgring next year if the Formula 1 schedule allows it.

Perhaps with the experience of participating this year, Verstappen can go on to win the legendary endurance race next year.