Max Verstappen team member says he ‘drives like a maniac’ after watching him at the Nurburgring

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Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving style shocked his colleagues during last weekend’s Nurburgring 24 Hours.

Verstappen.com Racing were on course to win the famous endurance race when the F1 driver’s teammate, Daniel Juncadella, encountered a driveshaft issue with four hours remaining. The ensuing repairs eliminated them from contention and they eventually finished 39th.

Verstappen made contact with the sister Mercedes during the race, and also executed a spectacular overtake on the grass, bringing his trademark fearlessness to a new series.

Max Verstappen’s performance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours was ‘almost frightening’

According to F1-Insider, Verstappen’s ‘uncompromising’ style caused ‘astonishment in the paddock’. Many of his rivals started with a cautious approach at the notoriously brutal race track, but he attacked from the beginning.

The speed of his adaptation was seen as ‘almost frightening’ by his colleagues. One of them told the publication that: “Max asks questions like an engineer and drives like a maniac. You don’t usually find that combination.”

Did Max Verstappen’s Nurburgring performance enhance his F1 legacy?

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While he was combative on the track, Verstappen looked more ‘relaxed’ than he has been ‘for a long time’ off the track. Observers saw the Red Bull driver ‘liberated’ by the break from F1.

Verstappen has been the biggest critic of the 2026 regulations and hasn’t had the car to fight for a win so far this year.

Even before the race had finished, Verstappen said he would like to return to the Nurburgring 24 Hours, and there’s already ‘speculation’ among insiders that he will compete in endurance races ‘more frequently’, perhaps even Le Mans.

‘Not many F1 drivers would do this’ – Max Verstappen’s teammate

Speaking to Planet F1, Juncadella said Verstappen’s participation in the race showed he was more ‘passionate’ about motorsport than many of his F1 rivals.

“I think not many other F1 drivers would have the will, the drive to come and race here, and he’s been very passionate about this race for many years,” he said.

Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg have both won the Le Mans 24 Hours, though the former wasn’t racing in F1 when he took his second victory in 2019.

Juncadella was also struck by Verstappen’s humility despite his glittering CV, adding: “He has a non-ego approach on this championship, and on these cars. He’s not thinking that he’s a four-time world champion, he’s just very honest about everything.”