Max Verstappen overtaken by SEVEN cars before first corner on 'embarrassing' racing debut
There's no Formula 1 event this weekend, yet Max Verstappen is still racing, making his GT debut at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany - but the world champion wasn't going as fast as usual
Max Verstappen found out what it's like to be slow off the line as he made his debut in GT racing. The Formula 1 world champion made the most of his weekend off between the Italian and Azerbaijani Grands Prix to take part in endurance racing.
Verstappen, 27, is racing around the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany, competing in the ADAC Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie rounds seven and eight. Unlike when he started from pole position and won in Monza last weekend, the Dutchman began by being overtaken by SEVEN cars before turn one.
However, Verstappen had the perfect excuse. In footage of the race start, the four-in-a-row F1 champion was seen going considerably slower than his fellow drivers.
That's because Verstappen is racing in 'detuned' conditions, driving a Red Bull-coloured Porsche Cayman GT4 #980. The 27-year-old doesn't yet have his full licence to race around Nurburgring.
Verstappen passed a test and received his B permit on Friday, allowing him to compete in the race over the weekend. That was after he set an unofficial lap record at the circuit in May, driving under an alias, 'Franz Hermann'.
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Verstappen still flew, though, clocking a stunning 10:21.591 lap time which was over 25 seconds faster than the next-best GT4 competitor. That was enough to secure him sixth place in his class and 27th overall.
In order to receieve his full licence, Verstappen has to complete 14 incident-free laps in his GT4. Should everything go to plan, Verstappen will be back in a fortnight's time and race in a Ferrari 296 GT3 during the 57th ADAC Barbarossapreis.
Ex-F1 star Ralf Schumacher, brother of the legendary Michael, described the situation as 'embarrassing', insisting that Verstappen should be given his full license immediately because of his elite driving experience.
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Schumacher told Motorsport-Total: "Of course, I would have given him that immediately, or he would have been given a briefing about the Nordschleife and the specific things. That would have been the end of the cheese.
"The best driver in the world will be able to do it if the others can do it, I'm pretty sure of that. Instead of many people being happy that Max also brings this attention to the Nordschleife again, and for what all the drivers do there, people argue about the fact that he gets his permit before he even drives.
"That's embarrassing."
Verstappen says that he feels 'more relaxed' competing in other racing categories. "When you do things outside of F1, it's more relaxed, which doesn't mean it's less professional and my desire to win is the same," he told the Sun.
"It's something I really enjoy exploring. It's important to enjoy my time. Time passes so quickly and I want to look back and be around for my family."
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