Verstappen targets 'unfinished business' at Nuburgring 24 Hours

Nonetheless, Verstappen is raring to return to the 'Green Hell' after what he described as a "brutal," but "very exciting" experience. The Dutchman's team, led by Verstappen, Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Dani Juncadella, had been 30 seconds in the lead with just three hours and 20 minutes to go before the latter suffered the driveshaft failure - the eventual P38 finish came as a result of a ceremonial final lap.

Speaking to media, including GPblog, Verstappen reflected on his 24-hour debut at the Nurburgring. He said: “I think, overall, it was just a great week. "Yeah, I enjoyed it a lot. Of course, it was going to be my first big endurance race and everything went really well. We had the car in good shape, I think we executed it very well.

Verstappen was then asked to judge the levels of satisfaction he gets from his recent ventures into endurance racing, which has dovetailed with his harsh criticism of the 2026 F1 regulations. He responded: "It's a different discipline and I enjoy it a lot and it's something that I always wanted to do.

Inevitably, Verstappen's future was also raised during Thursday's Canadian GP media day, with the Red Bull driver softening his stance on a potential exit at the end of the season. The 28-year-old was quizzed on how important GT racing would be for him should he stay in F1, and whether he was keen to return to the Nurburgring.

Verstappen responded: "Yeah, I mean, I do feel of course that it's a bit of unfinished business. I want to win it, so I want to go back. But of course the calendar needs to allow it, but it's definitely a race that I want to do more of."

As well as Lando Norris, George Russell is another driver that has been keeping a keen eye on Verstappen's endurance exploits, even telling GPblog "never say never" when asked on a potential partnership with the Dutchman at the Nurburgring.

Although Verstappen did not seem quite as enthusiastic about that prospect, arguing the two are in different stages of their F1 careers, the Red Bull driver was encouraged by the level of interest shown in endurance racing by his F1 peers.

He said: "Yeah, but I think I'm also in a little bit of a different situation, in the F1 championships, in F1. Of course, I'm busy with my whole GT3 project. So I think we are a little bit in a different position, and I think for him, the focus is at the moment fully on Formula 1. But it's cool, you know, a lot of drivers were texting me and following it. So I think that's always nice to see that."