Max Verstappen says he has a want to enterprise into endurance racing sooner or later, however admits his focus is squarely on Method 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 acquired his first style of GTP equipment behind the wheel of an Acura ARX-06.
Coached up by Colin Braun, who drives the automobile 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 mentioned: “Yeah, it isn’t about teasing or no matter. I do know that I wish to do it sooner or later anyway, however it’s nearly discovering the time.
“With such a busy F1 schedule, it is virtually unattainable 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 unattainable.
“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 means to take action is by doing a little correct testing and get rather well ready, which isn’t potential in the intervening time.
“However, who is aware of? Perhaps in just a few years time. I am going to nonetheless be young-ish and I am going to have the ability to drive the automobiles.”
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: HRC
David Salters, president of Honda Racing Company, mentioned Verstappen will at all times have a possibility for a drive within the Daytona 24 Hours.
“I feel for Max Verstappen the door is at all times open,” Salters solely instructed Motorsport.com. “It is Max Verstappen! He is likely one of the best racing drivers of all time already, let’s examine what he goes on to attain.
“We’ve an excellent relationship with Max. Let’s examine what occurs, however he is a busy boy. However, the door is at all times open for Max Verstappen.”
The Purple 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, in fact, there are fairly some low-speed corners,” Verstappen mentioned.
“The automobile actually comes alive within the larger speeds that was extra on the again facet of the observe. However it was very pleasurable. I’ve pushed these automobiles on the sim slightly 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 situations 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 mentioned, “as a result of that is not vital 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 laborious to mix with F1,” he mentioned. “Particularly with every little thing being increasingly aggressive, you’ll be able to’t divide your time between F1 and a GTP. A minimum of for me, after I compete in one thing, I should be properly ready.”
