was filled with reward for his “superb team-mate” , claiming he’s the proper co-driver for endurance racing forward of contesting the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
The four-time Method 1 world champion is making his debut on the historic occasion this weekend, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Gounon, and .
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Verstappen’s entry has introduced extra fan fare to the 2026 race, which has totally bought out amid the Dutchman’s ongoing endurance racing commitments that hold rising.
However alongside that, he’s additionally the founding father of the Verstappen.com Racing staff which Gounon competes for in GT World Problem and that led to him being picked for the Nordschleife.
Gounon advised Motorsport.com: “Max is a tremendous team-mate to have. For the reason that first check we did in Estoril, I instantly understood that this particular person is coming from one other planet, in a great way, as a result of the man is simply superb.
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“On high of that, he is a really good team-mate, so if I had amnesia and I’d not know the particular person, I’d be like, ‘wow, this can be a excellent transfer that AMG introduced this driver with us as a result of he is quick, he is good, he is enjoyable’.
Jules Gounon
Jules Gounon
“On the finish, it is what you want in endurance. In endurance, you have to share plenty of stuff, so if you aren’t getting alongside along with your team-mate, it is very troublesome to have a pleasant environment.
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“And Max could be very good: he is very open, very humble. There is no such thing as a ego. So on this manner, he is a really good team-mate.”
The #3 Mercedes is due to this fact the discuss of the paddock this weekend and to many is the favorite for victory, however not simply due to Verstappen.
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Gounon is an already profitable endurance racer with two victories on the Spa 24 Hours, having additionally taken the 2022 GT World Problem Europe Endurance title with Juncadella, whereas Auer took the Dash model of that championship in 2024.
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So Mercedes is in an awesome place to take its first Nurburgring 24 Hours victory since 2016, when it gained with , , and .
“We’re good on paper, however we did not win it for 10 years,” added Gounon. “So I actually hope that we now have a very good race.
#3 Mercedes-AMG Group Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen
#3 Mercedes-AMG Group Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen
“As soon as once more, I do not like to talk earlier than, however we now have ready as a lot as we might, as finest as we might and hopefully it seems effectively.”
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But Gounon is aware of wanting good on paper issues comparatively little at such a manic and unpredictable occasion, as varied components like combined climate, technique and reliability come into play.
“I actually imagine that every one the 24-hour races, it is one thing that is meant to be – the place wants to decide on you,” mentioned the Frenchman.
“On the finish of the day, you want a little bit of luck to win the 24 hours. I misplaced many 24 hours the place I actually thought that I used to be going to have them.
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“I am doing dash and endurance races, which is one thing very totally different, and in endurance, I actually really feel…on the finish, you have to provoke your luck, that is clear.
“However I really feel in these massive races the place there’s plenty of aura from the place, the place wants to decide on you.”
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