Max Verstappen says he has a need to enterprise into endurance racing sooner or later, however admits his focus is squarely on Components 1 as he sits getting ready to a fourth consecutive title.
The 27-year-old Dutchman took half in a celebration of Honda’s ‘Hybrid Heroes’ on Tuesday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the place he acquired his first style of GTP equipment behind the wheel of an Acura ARX-06.
Coached up by Colin Braun, who drives the automotive for Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) within the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Verstappen set off for practically a half-hour of working round a highway course format estimated round 1.3 miles in size.
In a roundtable with choose media, Verstappen was requested by Motorsport.com if this chance teased the concept of working within the endurance traditional, he mentioned: “Yeah, it is not about teasing or no matter. I do know that I wish to do it sooner or later anyway, but it surely’s nearly discovering the time.
“With such a busy F1 schedule, it is nearly not possible as a result of we end so late within the season after which to correctly put together the place you must run Daytona or no matter, is fairly not possible.
“I do know that after I wish to do it, I wish to go there and attempt to win it, be actually aggressive. The one approach to take action is by doing a little correct testing and get rather well ready, which isn’t potential in the meanwhile.
“However, who is aware of? Perhaps in a couple of years time. I am going to nonetheless be young-ish and I am going to be capable to drive the vehicles.”
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: HRC
David Salters, president of Honda Racing Company, mentioned Verstappen will at all times have a chance for a drive within the Daytona 24 Hours.
“I believe for Max Verstappen the door is at all times open,” Salters completely instructed Motorsport.com. “It is Max Verstappen! He is without doubt one of the biggest racing drivers of all time already, let’s have a look at what he goes on to attain.
“We have now an excellent relationship with Max. Let’s have a look at what occurs, however he is a busy boy. However, the door is at all times open for Max Verstappen.”
The Purple Bull Racing driver’s solely earlier sensation to the GTP equipment got here on a simulator, which helped restrict a steep preliminary studying curve.
“To get a primary really feel for it right here, in fact, there are fairly some low-speed corners,” Verstappen mentioned.
“The automotive actually comes alive within the increased speeds that was extra on the again facet of the monitor. But it surely was very satisfying. I’ve pushed these vehicles on the sim a little bit bit, however to get a primary feeling in actual life was actually cool.”
Verstappen went on to notice “it was fairly pure” getting behind the wheel for the primary time, however the chilly situations made for some additional time in warming up the tires as much as an optimum temperature.
“I used to be looking for the boundaries step-by-step with out overdoing it,” he mentioned, “as a result of that is not mandatory in any respect, and have a little bit of enjoyable on the market.”
When requested about eager to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Verstappen famous it was a problem with the demand of the present F1 schedule.
“Yeah, however I believe it is in the meanwhile very onerous to mix with F1,” he mentioned. “Particularly with every thing being increasingly more aggressive, you may’t divide your time between F1 and a GTP. At the very least for me, after I compete in one thing, I must be effectively ready.”
