Max Verstappen was blocked from qualifying for Nurburgring race because he was too fast

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Max Verstappen wanted to drive for his GT3 team in qualifying at the Nurburgring on Sunday, but his team wouldn’t let him.

Verstappen’s teammate Lucas Auer was entrusted with the car for qualifying ahead of race two. The Austrian qualified fifth, three seconds off the pace over the eight-minute lap.

Verstappen stormed into the lead in the race itself and was over 30 seconds clear when he picked up unexplained damage. The repairs in the pit lane spoiled their afternoon, and they eventually finished P39.

Max Verstappen was sidelined for Race 2 qualifying

In an interview with Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen confirmed that he had asked to drive in Sunday qualifying, but the team ‘didn’t want to put me in the car’.

According to GPFans NL, this was clearly motivated by the Balance of Performance (BoP) rules. Verstappen has previously come close to lap records at the Nordschleife, and if his time was too fast, the team would be penalised for the Nurburgring 24 Hours next month.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen practiced incredible pit lane overtake on live stream days before Nurburgring race

Verstappen was a second quicker than Auer over a single lap based on the race one qualifying session.

The four-time Formula 1 champion said he was ‘fine’ with the decision, stressing that ‘we have to be fast in the 24 Hours’. The race is scheduled for 16-17 May, the weekend before the Canadian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen hesitant over Le Mans 24 Hours due to Balance of Performance rules

James Hinchcliffe says Verstappen’s criticism of the new F1 rules is ‘ironic’ given that he enjoys a category with BoP.

Verstappen has called the new era of F1 artificial, but critics of BoP rules also say the entertainment is manufactured.

The Dutchman has previously indicated that he’s reluctant to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours until the regulations are refined.

F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli is keen to partner Verstappen at Le Mans, while there has also been talk of a link-up with Fernando Alonso, who won the race in 2018 and 2019.