Verstappen’s NLS teammate left speechless: ‘There’s no superlative for him'

The Frenchman was one of the three drivers in the Verstappen.com-branded Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo line-up in today’s race, handing the car back to the Dutchman for the final stint after building a gap over the chasing pack during the middle phase of the race.

Speaking at the end of the race, Gounon had high praise for him: "Being back at the Nurburgring with Max is just exceptional. The story is exceptional. My two teammates were exceptional today, the team also, so it feels great, honestly."

He also added: "Max is just so amazing, so humble. I just feel like I have a top teammate next to me. That’s the thing, he’s just… it’s Max. There’s no superlative for him."

Speaking after the race, the Dutchman described the experience as hugely enjoyable, praising the team for delivering a well-prepared car that allowed for productive running and gave him immediate confidence behind the wheel, making it a particularly rewarding outing at the Nordschleife.

When jokingly asked about Mario Kart-style preparation, he pointed instead to the extensive simulator work he has done at the circuit over the years, explaining how valuable it is for newcomers to at least know the layout before arriving, before shifting the focus to building pace and adapting to GT traffic once on track.

He also highlighted the unique atmosphere of the venue, underlining how special it is to race there, especially in front of such passionate fans, adding that being part of that environment made the whole experience even more memorable.