Is Max Verstappen receiving particular remedy at Mercedes-AMG? As Motorsport.com has discovered from dependable sources, the #3 Winward Mercedes – which he shares with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella is completely different from different Mercedes within the Nürburgring 24 Hours in two key areas: its suspension and engine preparations.
The Pink Bull-liveried machine was not outfitted with the Bilstein suspension sometimes utilized by Mercedes-AMG on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife – regardless of AMG beforehand holding an unique settlement with the German suspension producer for its Efficiency Group entries within the Eifel.
Why is Verstappen working a special suspension?
#3 Mercedes-AMG Group Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon
Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
As a substitute, the Verstappen automotive options dampers and comes from Multimatic, the elements with which the automotive was initially homologated. In contrast to GT3 sequence such because the DTM, the selection of suspension is mostly free on the Nordschleife – although it have to be authorised by the organizer to make sure there aren’t any security dangers.
In keeping with sources talking with Motorsport.com, it was Verstappen’s personal want to run the Multimatic suspension, which the Mercedes-AMG automotive additionally makes use of throughout 2 Seas’ entries below the Verstappen Racing banner within the GT World Problem Europe (GTWCE). For the reason that #80 continues to make use of the Bilstein setup, the 2 Winward Mercedes will head into the 24-hour race with completely different suspension configurations.
Has this given Verstappen a bonus? That query is already circulating within the paddock. Nonetheless, the actual fact stays that there’s a business partnership between Verstappen Racing and the Canadian producer for the GTWCE and the Nürburgring look.
Group sources insist there isn’t any efficiency distinction between the 2 setups.
Replace – What was ready at HWA?
#3 Mercedes-AMG Group Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon
Photograph by: Gruppe C Pictures
HWA possesses huge expertise on the Nordschleife, having managed AMG’s manufacturing unit efforts till final 12 months – moreover, the long-standing firm developed and constructed the Mercedes-AMG GT3, together with the Evo model.
The sheer degree of element with which the four-time Components 1 world champion prepares his GT3 outings is obvious when taking a look at his second undertaking: The two Seas Racing Mercedes-AMG, which competes within the GT World Problem Europe below the Verstappen Racing banner, underwent an unique and thorough inspection and measurement at HWA in Affalterbach previous to the season – regardless that HWA is technically not chargeable for such duties.
Nonetheless, Mercedes-AMG engines for this 12 months’s Nürburgring outing had been certainly ready at HWA – and, in accordance with our sources they had been put by way of their paces on the HWA dynamometer. This comes even though HWA has formally not been chargeable for the GT3 operations of the model for the reason that break up with Mercedes-AMG on the finish of 2025, having been changed by the AMG subsidiary Affalterbach Racing GmbH.
HWA acquired engine preparation order from Mercedes-AMG
It appears that evidently even at headquarters, they’re unwilling to take any dangers so quickly after the transition to Affalterbach Racing GmbH. With Verstappen’s entry, there’s a important quantity at stake this 12 months, and the purpose is to win the Eifel basic for the primary time in ten years.
To arrange for each eventuality, the Winward workforce has constructed up a spare automotive, which may be retrieved at any time from their workshop in Altendiez, simply an hour away, ought to or not it’s vital.
The sister Winward entry almost needed to apply it to Friday after Maro Engel’s crash in Prime Qualifying 2. Nonetheless, that automotive was repaired on the circuit.
Editor’s Notice: A earlier model of this text said that the #3 Winward Mercedes was at HWA in Affalterbach for preparation forward of the 24-hour race. This data was incorrect. The truth is, it was the two Seas Racing Mercedes-AMG, fielded by Verstappen Racing within the GT World Problem Europe, that was ready at HWA. We apologize for the error.
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