Source:REUTERS/Hollie Adams
[Saba Sports News] After completing his 2026 Nürburgring-Nordschleife debut, Max Verstappen’s past ties to the legendary circuit were brought up again. Former Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko revealed that many years ago he personally vetoed a bold plan by Verstappen: to drive a Red Bull F1 car in a demonstration run at the Nürburgring. Marko said Verstappen had been full of enthusiasm for the track, but in his view the proposal was far more than just a demo. At the time, Verstappen had watched a video of Timo Bernhard driving the Porsche LMP1/919 to set the circuit’s fastest lap and wanted to use an F1 car to challenge that time. Although the plan was rejected back then, Verstappen ultimately made his way onto the Nordschleife in another way. Last week he, Juncadella and Gounon co-drove a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the opening round of the 2026 Nürburgring Endurance Series, at one point winning by more than a minute. However, the story quickly reversed. Post-race scrutineering found the team had used a seventh set of tires beyond the regulations, violating the rules, and their result was disqualified. The original victory evaporated, and Verstappen’s Nürburgring outing ended in disappointment.
The editor believes Marko’s stopping of Verstappen’s “Nürburgring F1 dream” was not about suppressing the driver’s enthusiasm but a rational decision based on track safety and engineering realities. The move protected the driver’s life and the team’s assets, and it gave Verstappen a reasonable outlet in GT endurance racing — reflecting a veteran manager’s precise risk control.