Max Verstappen believes GT racing is more exciting than Formula 1, admitting that watching his team compete in endurance events makes him more nervous than driving an F1 car himself. The four-time world champion made the striking comparison after an impressive appearance at Portimão, where he recovered from 24th to ninth during his 45-minute stint in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
Taking advantage of a weekend without Formula 1 racing, Max Verstappen travelled to Portugal to compete in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. His performance on the Algarve International Circuit attracted attention, but it was his comments during a livestream with Verstappen Racing that offered a particularly revealing insight into his enthusiasm for GT competition.
Max Verstappen explains why GT racing is more exciting than Formula 1
Max Verstappen participated in the three-hour race at Portimão, the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season. Sharing driving duties with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat, the Dutchman returned to competitive GT racing while Formula 1 was enjoying a break between Grands Prix.
During a livestream with Verstappen Racing, Max Verstappen explained that following GT races as a spectator creates more tension for him than competing directly in Formula 1. Despite the considerable pressure associated with driving at the highest level of single-seater racing, he admitted that watching others compete in endurance events can be an even more nerve-racking experience.
“GT races are more exciting. I always get more nervous watching them than when I’m driving a Formula 1 car myself. That says a lot,” Max Verstappen said.
The comment offers an interesting perspective on the Dutchman’s relationship with motorsport. Although Formula 1 remains the championship in which he has achieved his greatest success, his enthusiasm for GT competition extends beyond simply getting behind the wheel.
Max Verstappen produces remarkable Portimão comeback from P24 to P9
Max Verstappen’s appearance at Portimão also produced one of the standout recovery drives of the GT World Challenge Europe season finale. The four-time Formula 1 world champion took over the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in 24th position and climbed to ninth during his final stint, gaining 15 places in approximately 45 minutes.
The result completed a challenging three-hour race for Verstappen Racing, with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat sharing the car alongside the Dutchman. Despite the difficulties encountered by the team, Max Verstappen demonstrated strong pace and overtaking ability to secure a top-ten finish.
His performance provided another example of his interest in competing outside Formula 1, while his comments about the excitement of GT racing highlighted the different emotions he experiences when watching endurance competition rather than participating in a Grand Prix.
GT racing offers Max Verstappen a different motorsport experience
The contrast between driving a Formula 1 car and watching a GT endurance race is particularly significant for Max Verstappen. In Formula 1, he is directly responsible for his performance and the decisions made behind the wheel. Watching his GT team compete, however, places him in the unfamiliar position of following events without being able to influence everything that happens on track.
His Portimão appearance combined those two perspectives. While his recovery from 24th to ninth demonstrated his competitiveness in GT machinery, his livestream remarks revealed that the excitement of endurance racing is something he experiences just as strongly when observing from outside the cockpit.
For Max Verstappen, the appeal of GT racing clearly goes beyond the opportunity to drive a different type of car. Even for a four-time Formula 1 world champion accustomed to competing under intense pressure, watching his team race can produce nerves that he does not experience to the same extent when driving an F1 car himself.
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