Verstappen avoids F1 distress by switching to the Nordschleife.

      Max Verstappen has traveled to the Nordschleife in search of "fun" as his dissatisfaction with the new era of Formula 1 continues to escalate. The Red Bull racer, who has been vocal about his discontent with the 2026 regulations, acknowledged before departing from Shanghai that he is no longer enjoying F1 and is solely looking forward to his visit to the Nurburgring. "Hopefully, I’ll have a bit more fun with that, because this isn’t enjoyable," he said to Viaplay, referring to his GT3 activities. "This (F1) doesn't help to make you a happy person, to be honest." When the interviewer Chiel van Koldenhoven joked that Verstappen's demeanor wasn't entertaining for viewers either, the Dutchman simply responded, "I’m doing my best." Verstappen also appreciated the opportunity to discuss topics other than Formula 1. "At least here you can chat about things beyond Formula 1," he remarked. The four-time world champion is set to compete at the Nordschleife on Saturday, marking the next phase of his confirmed plan to participate in the Nurburgring 24 Hours later this year in his Mercedes AMG GT3 supported by Red Bull. "Definitely, a lot," he stated when asked how eager he is for the weekend, "especially with how things are going here now." With the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races cancelled, Verstappen might even add more Nurburgring sessions to his calendar, though nothing has been confirmed. The difference between this and his Formula 1 season is stark. Red Bull is currently facing challenges regarding both speed and reliability, and Dutch motor racing figure Tom Coronel doubts Verstappen will clinch a victory in 2026. "If he does, it’s only because others make significant mistakes or because Red Bull suddenly discovers something," he noted. "The gap is really too substantial." Even those within Verstappen's broader circle recognize that his frustration is directly linked to his current lack of competitiveness. "If Max had been in the Mercedes, he would have been as quiet as a mouse," said Nelson Piquet Jr, the brother of Verstappen’s partner Kelly. "He wants to win every race. That’s Max." Verstappen’s retired mentor Dr. Helmut Marko has shared that the 28-year-old’s interest in the Nordschleife dates back several years, including a plan to drive a Formula 1 car on the circuit that was ultimately prohibited. "Max had seen Timo Bernhard’s record lap, and I think he wanted to beat it," Marko told f1-insider.com. "That was too dangerous for me, so I forbade it." Now, Marko is relieved that Verstappen is taking on the challenge in GT3 machinery instead. "Fortunately, he can now unleash his skills on the Nordschleife with the Mercedes GT3," he said. The Dutch driver will return to Formula 1 at Suzuka next weekend, but the sentiment surrounding his season remains far from positive. Former driver Christian Danner even dismissed the pre-season statements made by Toto Wolff regarding Red Bull’s potential dominance in 2026. "No, dear Toto, that was nonsense, of course," he commented to motorsport-magazin.com.