Antonelli eyes "cool" Verstappen partnership after Nurburgring test request

Kimi Antonelli is dreaming of a "cool" partnership with four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen after requesting permission to test at the legendary Nordschleife.

Verstappen’s love of racing will once again take him to the longest permanent circuit in the world this weekend, as he competes in the second round of this year’s Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie [NLS] in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car. The event will see him tick the final box, which will allow him to compete in May’s Nurburgring 24 Hours.

But the Dutchman is not the only driver with a longing to do battle outside of the F1 paddock, with Antonelli, whose father competed in GT racing and manages the AKM motorsport team, also keen on sampling another discipline.

Asked if driving alongside Verstappen in endurance competition would be something of interest, he said: “That would be super-cool. I would love to do an endurance race with Max together. I think that would be pretty awesome. It’s cool because we both have the passion for GTs. Obviously, on my side, it came from my dad with the GT team, and occasionally, I go and test - when I can.

“Obviously, Max as well has been really enjoying it, and it’s really cool for him to do the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring. I think it’s going to be a really cool event, and I’ll definitely be watching it.

“It’s something in the future I would really like to do, to race with him in an endurance race. I think we would be a really cool pair, and I think it would be a really cool experience. But it’s something that I’ve been considering as well. I’ve already asked to do a test at the Nordschleife, for example, because it’s a track that I love and I would really love to be able to try it in the real world as well.”

Of his continued Nurburgring push and the potential to complete the NLS season, Verstappen said: “Well, I mean, this was of course already planned regardless of what I’m driving this year.

“Yeah, I mean, I wish I had a bit more fun [in F1] at the moment, of course, here, but at the same time I’m also very happy that the team here they let me do all these things, and yeah, it’s just something that I’m of course looking forward to. And besides that, if something happens with the calendar, I’ll have a look at what’s possible.”

Verstappen “doesn’t need to convince” Red Bull over GT exploits

While it used to be common to see drivers racing in numerous categories alongside their F1 efforts, the expansion of the calendar has reduced this to such an extreme that such occasions attract significant attention.

With added risks and the constant chance for injury, despite continual improvements in safety, it is understandable why a team would not wish to allow its drivers to partake in extracurricular activities such as this.

For Red Bull, however, the decision was a simple one.

“He doesn’t need to convince us, really,” said team principal Laurent Mekies. “It’s enough to speak a few minutes with Max and you see his face lighten, his eyes lighten when he talks about racing cars.

“It doesn’t matter what type of cars. It’s great. We have seen it last year. He has done it quite a few times in between the races.

“You would think it’s taking energy from him, but in fact, he comes back with more energy to the racetrack.

“He is in love with the sport, and it’s a great reminder to all of us that we are all motor sport fans. He’s a motor sport fan, and he loves spending his free weekends racing.”