Max Verstappen says he has a want to enterprise into endurance racing sooner or later, however admits his focus is squarely on Components 1 as he sits on the point of a fourth consecutive title.
The 27-year-old Dutchman took half in a celebration of Honda’s ‘Hybrid Heroes’ on Tuesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the place he obtained his first style of GTP equipment behind the wheel of an Acura ARX-06.
Coached up by Colin Braun, who drives the automotive for Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) within the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Verstappen set off for practically a half-hour of operating round a highway course structure estimated round 1.3 miles in size.
In a roundtable with choose media, Verstappen was requested by Motorsport.com if this chance teased the concept of operating within the endurance traditional, he stated: “Yeah, it isn’t about teasing or no matter. I do know that I wish to do it sooner or later anyway, nevertheless it’s nearly discovering the time.
“With such a busy F1 schedule, it is virtually unimaginable as a result of we end so late within the season after which to correctly put together the place you must run Daytona or no matter, is fairly unimaginable.
“I do know that after I wish to do it, I wish to go there and attempt to win it, be actually aggressive. The one method to take action is by performing some correct testing and get rather well ready, which isn’t potential in the intervening time.
“However, who is aware of? Possibly in just a few years time. I will nonetheless be young-ish and I will have the ability to drive the automobiles.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: HRC
David Salters, president of Honda Racing Company, stated Verstappen will all the time have a chance for a drive within the Daytona 24 Hours.
“I feel for Max Verstappen the door is all the time open,” Salters solely instructed Motorsport.com. “It is Max Verstappen! He is without doubt one of the best racing drivers of all time already, let’s have a look at what he goes on to realize.
“We now have an excellent relationship with Max. Let’s examine what occurs, however he is a busy boy. However, the door is all the time open for Max Verstappen.”
The Pink Bull Racing driver’s solely earlier sensation to the GTP equipment got here on a simulator, which helped restrict a steep preliminary studying curve.
“To get a primary really feel for it right here, after all, there are fairly some low-speed corners,” Verstappen stated.
“The automotive actually comes alive within the larger speeds that was extra on the again aspect of the observe. Nevertheless it was very pleasing. I’ve pushed these automobiles on the sim somewhat bit, however to get a primary feeling in actual life was actually cool.”
Verstappen went on to notice “it was fairly pure” getting behind the wheel for the primary time, however the chilly circumstances made for some further time in warming up the tires as much as an optimum temperature.
“I used to be looking for the bounds step-by-step with out overdoing it,” he stated, “as a result of that is not essential in any respect, and have a little bit of enjoyable on the market.”
When requested about eager to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Verstappen famous it was a problem with the demand of the present F1 schedule.
“Yeah, however I feel it is in the intervening time very arduous to mix with F1,” he stated. “Particularly with every part being increasingly aggressive, you’ll be able to’t divide your time between F1 and a GTP. No less than for me, after I compete in one thing, I must be nicely ready.”
