Verstappen avoids F1 misery by switching to Nordschleife.

      Max Verstappen has traveled to the Nordschleife in search of "fun" as his dissatisfaction with the new era of Formula 1 continues to intensify. The Red Bull driver, who has been critical of the 2026 regulations, admitted before departing from Shanghai that he is not enjoying his time in F1 anymore and is merely looking forward to his trip to the Nurburgring.

      "Hopefully I’ll have a bit more fun with that, because this isn't enjoyable," he told Viaplay, referring to his GT3 program. "This (F1) doesn’t make you a cheerful person, to be honest."

      When interviewer Chiel van Koldenhoven jokingly noted that Verstappen’s mood isn't much fun for viewers, the Dutchman simply responded, "I’m doing my best." Verstappen also appreciated the opportunity to discuss topics beyond Formula 1. "At least here you can talk about other things than Formula 1," he stated.

      The four-time world champion is set to race at the Nordschleife on Saturday, advancing his confirmed plan to participate in the Nurburgring 24 Hours later this year in his own Red Bull-supported Mercedes AMG GT3. "Definitely, a lot," he said regarding his anticipation for the weekend. "Certainly with how things are going here now."

      With the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races cancelled, Verstappen may even expand his Nurburgring appearances, although nothing has been confirmed yet. The disparity with his Formula 1 season is evident. Red Bull is currently facing challenges with pace and reliability, leading Dutch motorsport figure Tom Coronel to express doubts about Verstappen winning a race in 2026. "If he does, it’s only because others make very big mistakes or because Red Bull suddenly finds something," he commented. "The deficit is really too big."

      Within Verstappen’s extended circle, there is recognition that his frustration is closely linked to his current lack of competitiveness. "If Max had been in the Mercedes, he would have been as quiet as a mouse," noted Nelson Piquet Jr., the brother of Verstappen’s partner Kelly. "He wants to win every race. That’s Max."

      Verstappen’s former mentor, Dr. Helmut Marko, shared that the 28-year-old has been interested in the Nordschleife for years, including an idea to run a Formula 1 car on the circuit that was ultimately stopped. "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 with GT3 cars instead. "Luckily he can now let loose on the Nordschleife with the Mercedes GT3," he remarked.

      The Dutchman will return to Formula 1 action next weekend in Suzuka, although the atmosphere surrounding his season is still far from optimistic. Former driver Christian Danner even dismissed the preseason assertions made by Toto Wolff that Red Bull could dominate in 2026. "No, dear Toto, that was nonsense, of course," he told motorsport-magazin.com.