How Verstappen stunned GT3 teammate with ‘special’ trick

The Nürburgring’s Nordschleifel has claimed many a victim, but at a recent NLS round, Max Verstappen wasn’t just learning – he was teaching a masterclass in GT3 racing.

While the post-race headlines were dominated by the disqualification of the #3 Winward Mercedes, many were captivated by something far more subtle: how Verstappen managed to dance effortlessly in the wake of rivals – cracking the dirty air code – on his first real dogfight at the daunting ‘Green Hell’.

And his Mercedes GT3 teammate Dani Juncadella, no stranger to the track, was left equally stunned.

“It was impressive to see how well he understood how to stay that close to Christopher [Haase]. It was his first time ever having to race like that in a GT3 car on this track,” Juncadella told Motorsport.com’s German affiliate.

Indeed, veteran Audi ace Christopher Haase had already expressed amazement at Verstappen’s ability to follow him so closely at high speed, but Juncadella revealed there was more to the story than raw pace.

“He actually did something quite special that we talked about after the race. It’s something I would have never thought of myself – and I’ve been driving GT cars for a long time,” Juncadella said.

And yet, the Spaniard kept the secret close to his chest:

“I’m not going to tell you what it is as I’d rather keep that to myself. It’s a nice trick he found out. Maybe I’ll tell you someday,” he added.

It was this combination of ingenuity and composure that allowed Verstappen to set the six fastest laps of the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 during the 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis, turning what could have been a chaotic first GT3 battle into a masterclass in traffic management.

Confidence meets experience

Juncadella pointed out that it wasn’t just about sheer speed around the Nordschleife.

“It’s not so much about his driving style; it’s the sheer confidence that he has to jump into a car you barely know, on a track that demands absolute self-confidence,” he said.

“And he was on pace from Friday practice onwards and in the race as well.”

While Verstappen dazzled in the lead, Juncadella’s role was equally critical: managing the car through a stint peppered with Code 60 zones and ensuring the Mercedes stayed clear of trouble.

“There weren't many fast laps in my stint because of the neutralisations,” he explained.

“But the car felt great. We didn't really have to worry about the Audi anymore because Christopher’s team-mate [Nico Hantke] was already in. He’s a bit less experienced and needs some more laps.”

By the time Juncadella handed over to Jules Gounon, the Winward crew had carved out a comfortable 20 to 30-second advantage — proof of meticulous teamwork and strategic acumen.

Virtual practice, real-world impact

Juncadella also credited Verstappen’s seamless adaptation to the Nürburgring to thousands of hours behind the wheel in the virtual world.

"His experience in sim racing gives him an edge. Through all those GT races online, he understands exactly how to race against others and how to read situations before they happen. It just shows how passionate he is about racing," he said.

Even though the #3 Mercedes would ultimately be stripped of its victory due to a tyre regulation breach, the impression Verstappen left on the Nordschleife was unmistakable – a Formula 1 star proving that instinct, ingenuity, and preparation can turn even the world’s most demanding track into a classroom.

Read also: Verstappen’s inner circle at Red Bull takes another hit

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