Everyone in the Nurburgring 24 Hours paddock is saying the same thing about Max Verstappen

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Max Verstappen has made waves with his entry into this weekend’s Nurburgring 24 Hours, and everyone inside the prestigious paddock has made the same comment about the Dutchman, according to a fellow competitor.

After 12 months of preparations, Max Verstappen will tick off a bucket list item as he takes to the Nordschleife in his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut this weekend.

The date has been earmarked in Red Bull Racing’s calendar since the four-time world champion successfully acquired the necessary permit to race GT3 cars at the circuit last year.

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He has competed in several NLS events since, with Verstappen blowing away the competition in the process.

Now he has become a regular inside the paddock at the iconic Eifel-based circuit, his newfound rivals have all come to the same conclusion regarding his entry into this year’s edition of the endurance race.

• READ MORE: James Hinchcliffe says Max Verstappen’s F1 complaints are ‘ironic’ amid GT3 ventures

Nicky Catsburg says drivers think it’s ‘so cool’ that Max Verstappen is competing

During an interview with De Telegraaf ahead of the four-time F1 world champion’s debut in the Nurburgring 24 Hours this weekend, GT3 star Nicky Catsburg revealed the sentiments of his ‘fellow drivers’ inside the paddock.

He told the Dutch publication, “I hear from all my fellow drivers around me that they think it’s so cool that Max is taking part.

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“Some find it a bit harder to admit that than others, because everyone naturally thinks they’re the coolest driver. It’s a dream to battle it out with Max, the best driver of the moment.

“It’s brilliant for the sport and the event. I hope the event now gets the attention it deserves. I’m just sure of one thing in advance: if I knock Max off the track, I won’t be allowed back into the Netherlands…”

While the majority of drivers who will be taking part are purely professionals, there will be a large minority of amateur drivers as well.

Of course, it’s not every day that you get to race against a multiple-time F1 world champion on the ‘Green Hell’, so it’s natural for competitors to soak in the moment.

Verstappen has been warned about racing against amateur drivers during the pitch-black Eifel evening at the weekend, with one of his new rivals, Renger van der Zande, highlighting how the Dutchman will need his wits about him.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen was blocked from qualifying for Nurburgring race because he was too fast

Nicky Catsburg says Max Verstappen has the ‘spare capacity’ to handle anything thrown at him

The mental capacity of Verstappen has been in the spotlight in the past, with a multitude of figures within the F1 paddock attributing the trait to the success that he has garnered in the sport over the years.

Catsburg shared a similar sentiment during his interview with De Telegraaf, noting that the 28-year-old should be able to handle any potential issues that crop up during the prestigious endurance race.

“If it starts raining on the Nordschleife, it gets tricky,” Catsburg added. “It’s incredibly hard to judge where it’s wet and where it’s dry there. Then it can just get scary; I’d rather it were a teammate’s turn!

“Something’s always happening there. That makes it strategically mega-difficult, but also very interesting. Dealing with traffic is tricky. That will apply to Max, too, but he has so much spare capacity that he’ll handle it.

“I think I can assess other drivers well, because I’ve been in various cars and situations myself. You’re constantly watching to see how and when a slower driver will pull over. It’s a fun game.”