Karun Chandhok says one team absolutely would not let their drivers race a GT3 car like Max Verstappen

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Red Bull stunned many by allowing Max Verstappen to compete in racing categories outside of his commitments to Formula 1, and Karun Chandhok has named one F1 team that would ‘absolutely’ not let their star drivers do the same.

Verstappen ‘impressed’ instructors at the Nurburgring during his debut at the track in racing conditions as the Red Bull driver took part in an NLS race in hopes of securing a permit to race faster machinery at the famous circuit in the future.

Aside from his main duties as a full-time driver for the Austrian constructor in F1, Helmut Marko has confirmed that Verstappen will take part in the Nurburgring 24 Hours race next year.

The prestigious race has been on the mind of the Dutchman for a while. As an avid sim-racer, Verstappen has clocked countless virtual laps around the Nordschleife in the past.

One of the main reasons for Red Bull’s leniency in letting the Dutchman take part in the race can be attributed to the fact that the team aren’t currently in contention for a title in F1.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Karun Chandhok believes McLaren wouldn’t ‘risk’ letting Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri race outside of F1

That is also the main reason Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok believes McLaren wouldn’t even consider letting title protagonists Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri take part in a race outside of their F1 commitments amid their current battle.

Piastri currently leads Norris by 31 points in the standings, and as we saw at the Dutch GP, the slightest issue could blow the championship battle wide open.

Speaking in Sky Sports F1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix preview, the former F1 driver told Bernie Collins and Ted Kravitz, “If it’s Oscar or Lando, absolutely, it’s not worth the risk.

“But, I think you also have to think of the characters. I think Fernando or a Max, they get energised by driving all the time.

“Again, it’s a bit like when people were saying about Lewis going to all these places and fashion shows, and Toto used to say, ‘Well, it’s what makes him happy and a happy Lewis is a faster Lewis.’ And I think it’s just understanding who you’ve got and absolutely playing that risk-reward game.”

McLaren previously allowed Fernando Alonso to take part in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2017.

The Spanish driver withdrew from the Monaco Grand Prix in order to compete in the race, handing his duties over to reserve driver Jenson Button.

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Bernie Collins thinks Red Bull may have to change their decision on Max Verstappen’s GT3 venture

Chandhok’s comments were in response to Collins’ thoughts that Red Bull may have to reconsider their stance on Verstappen’s extra-curricular racing if they find themselves in a championship fight in 2026.

“I had one thought on this at home on the weekend. Obviously, over the winter, a lot of teams prevent drivers from going skiing or snowboarding or mountain biking or any of these things that could potentially injure themselves,” Collins told her co-hosts.

“Well, like it literally says on the pass, motorsport is dangerous. Like driving around the Nordschleife in a slower car. So, if he were racing for the world championship, if Red Bull were racing for the constructor’s championship, it should be a slightly different decision.

“I think Max is a great driver, but it’s like any of us driving on the road at home. You can’t be responsible for the guys around you. A big accident could happen at any time. So it’s a risk, I don’t know if that’s the engineer in me talking.”

The dangerous nature of the 12.9-mile-long route located in the town of Nurburg is one of the reasons why Verstappen doesn’t want to drive an F1 car around the circuit.

The last F1 race to take place at the iconic Green Hell was in 1976. It was dropped from the calendar due to concerns about driver and spectator safety.