Max Verstappen: “I hope not to see Valentino Rossi in the race, although I would like to exchange a few words with him”
Max Verstappen doesn’t rest. After a demanding hat-trick of racing Formula 1 and to sweep away his triumphs in Sepang and Singaporethe Dutchman returns to compete this weekend in the GT World Challenge in Portimao with his own GT team on a grid full of cars where he will share the track with another world motoring icon, Valentino Rossi, before facing another triplet of F1 races: in total, seven consecutive weekends of racing for Max.
As explained Dani Juncadellateam pilot Max Verstappenthe fact that two of the drivers from the Dutch team are competing this weekend in the World Endurance Championship, made Max decide to jump behind the wheel. But there was another option.
“Both me and Jules Gounon, my partner, had to race here in the WEC, but suddenly in the GT World Challenge they made the race on Saturday to be able to accommodate the drivers who wanted to travel like that like crazy to both races. And I remember that both Jules and I told Max, ‘Hey, we could get together, we’re available.'”Juncadella revealed. But Max was clear: “No, no, I’ll run now,” said Juncadella.
“I mean, the guy just wants to run… it seems like it’s Formula 1, you know? The guy just wants to run,” Dani stood out about a Max that Valentino Rossi spoke about last weekend on ‘Sky Sport Italia’.
‘It will be incredible. It will be a big problem because he is really fast, but at the same time it will be fantastic. I never imagined that I would run against Max Verstappennever. We hope to feel comfortable on the track and learn from him,” said the Italian, who competes in this event by car in a BMW M4 GT3 EVO with the number 46 of the WRT team.
‘It will be incredible. It will be a big problem because he is really fast, but at the same time it will be fantastic
Max, for his part, will lead the Verstappen Racing, behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with number 3 and had some fun words in Singapore about Valentino Rossi.
I hope to meet Valentino Rossi. He’s a really cool guy, so I’d like to say hello and exchange a few words with him (around the paddock). I mean that in a good way, but I hope I don’t see him during the race
‘I will be fast and competitive. I hope to meet Valentino Rossi. He’s a really cool guy, so I’d like to say hello and exchange a few words with him. (by the paddock). I mean that in a good way, but I hope I don’t see it during the race: normally that would be a good sign. In fact, I hope not to see anyone, to be in front and do a good job. But you never know”said the Dutchman, who wants to have fun with the pure driving of these cars, without the electrical management that current F1 cars require.
“The grid is extremely competitive and I’m looking forward to this challenge. It’s very different from Formula 1, but I really like it. This year I already had my first contact on the Nordschleife and Portimão is a very nice track to drive. “I will try to enjoy it and naturally as a team we will do everything possible to achieve a good result,” added the four-time F1 champion.
GT World Challenge schedules in Portimao
The GT World Challenge qualifying and race in Portimao can be followed for free on DAZN. The broadcast of the classification will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the three-hour race will begin on Saturday, October 17 at 5:30 p.m.
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