Tom Coronel explains why F1 should have ‘paid attention’ to Max Verstappen at Nurburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen’s debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours brought a multitude of Formula 1 fans over to the GT3 racing category last weekend, but the event wasn’t acknowledged at all by the sport itself.

Ahead of the Dutchman’s first foray into 24-hour endurance racing, the ADAC confirmed that tickets for the prestigious race sold out for the first time ever, leading to a record attendance of over 352,000 spectators at the Eifel-based circuit.

The Nurburgring paddock was rife with more fans and journalists than usual, with Verstappen’s Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG garage serving as the main attraction.

Is this the best overtake you’ve seen all season? 🤯

Max Verstappen passed the #47 Mercedes of Jesse Krohn on the grass at the Nurburgring!

Absolute scenes from Max Verstappen, given it's not that long ago since he was on the grass after getting some air! #24hNbr #Nurburgring24Hours pic.twitter.com/rmubCeCHZm
— Thomas Maher (@thomasmaheronf1) May 16, 2026

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The Austrian drinks company, of course, capitalised on their star driver taking part in the event by providing a livestream dedicated to the #3’s onboard over the course of the 24 hours, with Sky Sports F1 also offering coverage of the event on YouTube.

However, F1’s social accounts over the weekend didn’t recognise Verstappen’s entry at all, leading pundit Tom Coronel to slam the sport for failing to support their four-time world champion.

READ MORE: David Coulthard sees what sets Max Verstappen apart after Nurburgring 24 Hours debut

Tom Coronel blasts F1 for not paying attention to Max Verstappen at the Nurburgring

Of course, F1 argues that the Nurburgring 24 Hours is a rival racing category, and so any mention of the race would be taking fans away from their product and towards that of GT3 racing.

With the backlash that F1 has received during the sport’s new era of regulations, an exhibition of flat-out racing at one of motorsport’s most illustrious venues may have further divided fans.

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!

Max Verstappen looks on before his appearance at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring — Photo by Jack Brekelmans/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Still, Coronel thinks F1’s status as the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport saves itself from ever falling from the perch that it sits atop.

Speaking via RacingNews365’s F1 podcast, the Dutchman responded to Ruud Dimmers’ opinion that F1 were right to snub any promotion of the Nurburgring 24 Hours with, “I see it quite differently.

“You’re Formula 1. Formula 1 is the absolute best there is, so you’re certainly allowed to promote some of the other motorsport events that are a step below it, so I don’t agree with that. I think Formula 1 certainly should have paid attention to it.

“One of their greatest icons in Formula 1, in the sport, who has also changed Formula 1 a great deal, because let’s be honest about that for a moment. At one point, we got regulations that we called the ‘Verstappen regulations’.

“When you were no longer allowed to swerve with steering manoeuvres when braking, all of that sort of thing. Before Max came into Formula 1, it was boring. It was just a bunch of softies.

“Max has simply raised the bar, and the competition in the pit lane has been turned up a notch. It’s perhaps become meaner, badder, and a bit more intense.”