"Formula 1" champion Max Verstappen is preparing to make his debut in the 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring next month. On this occasion, Bernd Mayländer, the driver of the official FIA safety car and winner of this race in 2000, gave the Dutch pilot his recommendations.
Idman.Biz, citing RacingNews, reports that Mayländer stated that this race, in which Verstappen will participate in a "Mercedes" GT3 car, is a big event for sports and fans. Mayländer, who is celebrating his 500th Grand Prix anniversary, emphasized that success at the Nürburgring requires discipline more than pure talent.
His most important advice to the world champion is to minimize risks:
"If you know the car is fast and the team is perfect, just think about the checkered flag. You don't need to be first in every turn. The race is very long, if you are not the leader in the first lap, you can be the leader in the 50th lap. The main thing is to keep the car intact."
Mayländer also warned about the unpredictable weather conditions of the Nürburgring and the "Code 60" rules. He stated that heavy traffic on the road and relationships with other drivers are the biggest lessons. According to him, even the fastest drivers cannot reach the finish line if they take too much risk.
It should be noted that before the main race, which will be held on May 16-17, Max Verstappen will participate in qualifying races on the North loop (Nordschleife) on April 18-19.