Daniel Juncadella hinted that the “heartbroken” Max Verstappenmight be encouraged to come back to the Nurburgring 24 Hours, even though his team narrowly missed out on winning in the final moments of 2026.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion was poised for a strong debut victory in the #3 Mercedes GT3, which he shared with Juncadella,Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer. However, a driveshaft malfunction occurred with three hours left, compelling Juncadella to come into the pits while leading, effectively giving the win to the sister Winward Mercedes.
When Motorsport.com asked about Verstappen’s condition, Juncadella responded: “Heartbroken, like everyone else. But in the end, he came here without any fear to compete against the top talents in our field. He performed exceptionally well.”
He delivered an incredible performance for everyone present. This generated significant interest in motorsport for the years ahead, and he had a great time.
Of course, he is a competitive person like me, like everyone else, and we all desire to win. Our ultimate dream isn’t fully realized, but perhaps that’s a reason for him to return next year.
Verstappen showcased a flawless display at the Nordschleife, with his first and second stints standing out as he claimed the overall lead each time and recorded lap times that others could not match.
It occurs as the Dutch driver faces growing participation in endurance racing, according to Juncadella, who believes he is also considering competing in other 24-hour races at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps.
Just a dream realized,” remarked Juncadella when questioned about sharing the car with Verstappen. “I wasn’t able to reach Formula 1, unfortunately, but I did compete with Max Verstappen around the Nordschleife.
I cherished every moment I spent with him, all the experiences we shared, the knowledge he gained from us through our experiences, and the lessons we learned from him. May there be many more, hopefully.
However, even if Juncadella and Verstappen don’t team up for another long-distance race, the 35-year-old Spanish driver was still deeply affected by all the experiences he had throughout the weekend.
It’s quite simple to gain knowledge from a four-time Formula 1 world champion,” he continued. “He’s an incredible talent. He’s also highly skilled in technical aspects, making him a truly well-rounded driver – I believe he’s the most exceptional talent we’ll ever see.
One of my strengths as a driver is also being somewhat like a sponge, trying to absorb as much as possible from my teammates. I believe that’s what I did. I demonstrated on the track that I delivered some remarkable performances throughout this weekend.
That’s also due to his support and his expertise, as well as what we have in common. Don’t forget Jules and Lucas. When you are surrounded by good people and cool teammates and you enjoy it, I believe that’s when you perform at your best.
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