RacingMax Verstappen has turned Formula 1’s unexpected April break into another race weekend, using the gap in the calendar to prepare for the Nürburgring 24 Hours instead of taking extra time off. Speaking in Amsterdam on Thursday at Viaplay’s “Een avond met Max Verstappen,” the Red Bull driver said the cancelled Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix opened a window that let him enter this weekend’s Nürburgring Qualifiers.
That slot would normally have been blocked by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. Instead, with Formula 1 paused for about a month after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled because of unrest in the Middle East, Verstappen is heading back to GT3 racing before the season resumes at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday 3 May.
He said the extra racing also needed some explaining at home. Verstappen, Red Bull driver, told the audience at the Viaplay theatre show in Amsterdam: “Die dingen moet ik thuis natuurlijk wel aankaarten. En tot nu toe gaat het blijkbaar goed.” In English, that is: “Of course I have to bring those things up at home. And so far it seems to be going well.”
Verstappen then described how Kelly Piquet reacted when the April changes became clear. Verstappen, Red Bull driver, told the audience at the Viaplay theatre show in Amsterdam that Piquet’s first response was: “Oh, er vallen twee wedstrijden weg.” He said he replied: “Ja dat klopt, maar... ik heb één weekend ingepland dat ik toch weer ga racen.” He added that she looked at him as if to say, “Ja, moet dat nou?” and that he answered: “Ja, dat moet.” In English, his account was: “Yes, that’s right, but I’ve scheduled one weekend where I’m going racing again.” Then: “Does that really have to be done?” And his answer: “Yes, that has to be done.”
Asked if that means he has to make it up at home in some other way, Verstappen, Red Bull driver, told the audience at the Viaplay theatre show in Amsterdam: “Ik denk dat we het goed compenseren.” In English: “I think we compensate for it well.”
The Nürburgring outing is not just a casual extra date. According to the event description referenced in the source material, the Qualifiers are the final test before the Nürburgring 24 Hours in mid-May. Verstappen has used free weekends for GT3 racing before, including multiple NLS appearances on the Nordschleife, and this latest opening in the F1 schedule has given him another chance to add mileage there.
That says plenty about how little time he spends away from racing. According to the source material, Verstappen is typically away from home for at least 20 weeks a year because of Formula 1 travel, simulator work and sponsor duties. Even with two grands prix disappearing from the calendar and rare space opening up in April, he still filled one of those weekends with another race.