Max Verstappen’s recent participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours race offered a rare glimpse into a bygone era of Formula 1, where top drivers frequently tests their mettle across different motorsport disciplines.

The four-time world champion is only the third grand prix driver in over two decades to seriously compete elsewhere while still active in F1, underscoring the stringent contractual obligations that typically keep stars confined to their single-seater cockpits.

Verstappen’s stint at the Nordschleife was not without drama, as he nearly crashed at high speed early on. Despite the scary moment, his performance was exceptional, propelling his team from 10th place to the lead before a driveshaft failure on Sunday morning ultimately ended their challenge.

Races like the Nurburgring 24 Hours are generally considered more dangerous than F1, a reason why most driver contracts explicitly forbid such ventures due to risk, potential clashes, and time constraints.

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However, Verstappen’s immense leverage with Red Bull Racing, coupled with his reported disinterest in some aspects of F1, allows him a unique freedom.

Red Bull, keen to keep their star happy, appears willing to accommodate his passion. This mirrors the situation Fernando Alonso found himself in while at McLaren, when an uncompetitive car prompted the team to allow him to race in the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 24 Hours, and the World Endurance Championship with Toyota. Nico Hulkenberg also raced at Le Mans in 2015 during his time with Force India.

F1’s engine regulation debate and the past

While drivers occasionally look to other series, Formula 1 itself is grappling with its future identity, particularly concerning engine regulations. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is reportedly pushing for a return to engine specifications reminiscent of the 2010-13 era.

This period saw gripping title fights in 2010 and 2012, but also a “pretty boring” second half to the 2013 season. That year started competitively, with Sebastian Vettel winning four of the first 10 grands prix, alongside victories for Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg, and Lewis Hamilton.

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However, a change to tyre specifications after blow-outs at the British Grand Prix led to Red Bull’s dominance, with Vettel winning the final nine races.

The naturally aspirated engine era, which ran from 1994 to 2009 and included refuelling, was notorious for a lack of overtaking. In contrast, the current hybrid engine era has seen an increase in overtaking, often attributed to what is termed “yo-yo racing.” The debate over future regulations touches on the sport’s essence, cost, noise, and the evolving road-car market.

Kimi Antonelli’s promising rise at Mercedes

Looking to the future of F1 talent, Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli is making significant strides. The young Italian is reportedly doing “especially well lately” and benefits from having Peter Bonnington, a race engineer who previously worked with Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, by his side.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff is convinced of Antonelli’s potential, acknowledging he would make mistakes but ultimately “come good.”

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Wolff emphasized the need to keep Antonelli grounded, stating, “We need to keep re-emphasising and repeating the message. This is a long game. He has a killer of a team-mate (George Russell) that is extremely fast. The others are catching up in performance. And we want to play the long game.”

According to BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson, Wolff also noted that Bonnington “has been a good mentor to (Antonelli). But also a strong boss.” Antonelli is currently leading the drivers’ championship by 20 points over his team-mate George Russell, heading into the fifth round of the 2026 season, the Canadian Grand Prix.

Sources: www.bbc.com

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