Verstappen: Red Bull freedom to race beyond F1 ‘very important’

Fresh off his endurance racing debut at the Nürburgring last weekend, Max Verstappen is singing the praises of Red Bull for letting him chase his racing passions outside the F1 bubble.

The four-time world champion took part in the ADAC ACAS Cup at the wheel of a Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 CS, marking his first competitive outing on the fearsome Nordschleife. While the car was detuned due to licensing requirements, Verstappen’s participation highlighted his growing appetite for racing beyond F1.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen stressed the significance of Red Bull giving him the flexibility to explore racing opportunities outside of the F1 paddock.

“Helmut always, he’s very excited about it,” Verstappen said, referring to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

“He also sees how passionate I am about it and what I’m doing for it. He has raced, of course, himself in endurance, so it’s easier to relate. For me, it’s very important to be able to do those things.”

A Balancing Act with Formula 1

Verstappen admitted that branching out into other series during a grueling F1 season is challenging, especially with new regulations arriving in 2026.

“Of course, how much I can do during an F1 season is a bit tricky, right?” he said.

“Also, next year, new regulations. It’s already hard enough in Formula 1, but we’ll just see how everything goes. For me, it’s impossible to say right now what will happen in five or ten years on F1’s side or GT’s side.”

The Dutchman has often hinted that he may not wish to remain in F1 beyond his current contract, which expires in 2028. His Nürburgring run served both as a personal milestone and a necessary step toward future ambitions.

A Dream of 24 Hours on the Nordschleife

For Verstappen, endurance racing is not just a diversion – it’s part of a long-term dream.

“The atmosphere is really good, a lot of passionate endurance fans are always there anyway,” he said. “And it’s kind of my hobby as well, racing in other kinds of motorsport.

“Of course, my dream is eventually to do the 24-hour race, so I knew that that licence needed to come. It was the perfect opportunity to do so.”

Focus Back on Baku

After returning to winning ways with a dominant drive last time out at Monza, Verstappen is cautious about his prospects at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“Let’s wait and see. I don’t know myself,” he admitted.

“Monza was of course a great result for us, a big boost for everyone and I’m excited to be here, to see how competitive we can be on this track. It’s very difficult to tell.

“Also with our car, we made some good steps forward but we have to wait to see how it will behave on a track like this, which is of course very different from Monza.”

As Verstappen guns for another win, his Nürburgring adventure has clearly recharged his batteries, proving Red Bull’s trust in his off-track pursuits is paying dividends.

Whether he’s blazing through Baku or dreaming of endurance glory, one thing’s certain: Max Verstappen’s passion for racing knows no limits.

Read also: Marko confirms Verstappen set for Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2026

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