Ralf Schumacher Schools Christian Horner over Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring Outing

Ralf Schumacher believes that Christian Horner was wrong to allow Max Verstappen to participate in a GT3 test at the Nürburgring.

Ralf Schumacher Schools Christian Horner over Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring Outing

Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (via Red Bull Content Pool), Ralf Schumacher (via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen recently visited the Nurburgring during the one-week break following the Miami GP. The Dutchman participated in a testing session ahead of the third round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie. Verstappen was present under a fake name as he took on the Ferrari GT3 challenger and shattered the lap-time world record on the track. However, despite the 27-year-old’s successful outing, ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher criticizes the team principal, Christian Horner allowing the reigning world champion’s dangerous excursions.

Max Verstappen has been an ardent lover of the GT3 racing format and has also laid out his wishes to potentially participate in the series following his exit from F1. As such, Verstappen’s sudden test session at the Nordschleife wasn’t a complete surprise. Still, the Nurburgring is notoriously known as one of the most dangerous tracks in the world due to its history of brutal crashes. Hence, despite the Dutchman breaking the lap-time world record, his excursion was completely uncalled for and dangerous.

Verstappen didn’t only risk his life while racing around the Nordschleife, but he’s also recently become a father to a sweet girl, Lily, as he might need to make smarter decisions. According to Ralf Schumacher, the visit was nothing short of a dangerous ride. The German reckoned that if he were the team principal, he would decline the 27-year-old’s visit to Nurburgring. Schumacher pointed out that the Dutchman doing something like this, especially at such a dangerous track, wasn’t very smart of him.

If I had been the team principal, I’d have asked Verstappen if he’s still all there. To do something like that on the Nordschleife of all places is not very smart.

Ralf Schumacher said on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast

Schumacher accepted that many people believed that the Nordschleife being dangerous was nothing short of an opinion. However, it is the bitter truth that the Nurburgring is an incredibly dangerous track to race around. Especially, the high speeds of the GT3 cars could prove even the tiniest mistake to be life-threatening. Still, Max Verstappen made a successful visit and ended the day on a high after shattering the previous lap-time world record on the track.

I know, for many it’s a viewpoint they don’t want to hear, but I find the Nordschleife incredibly dangerous. That’s just the way it is, especially at this level and at these speeds.

Ralf Schumacher added

Ralf Schumacher reveals ‘biggest challenge’ in Max Verstappen’s Nurburgring visit

The Nurburgring is also called the Green hell due to its incredibly dangerous nature. The circuit was involved in Formula 1 with the German GP for a short time before it was discontinued due to the threats it posed. While the track has continued to receive updates in order to make it safer, enough hasn’t been done yet to make it completely safe for all the drivers, even Max Verstappen.

Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Ralf Schumacher recalled that the DTM series racing at the Nordschleife was banned due to their challengers racing at extreme speeds. However, the GT3 isn’t much different compared to that and is still dangerous for any driver. Schumacher reckons that incidents happen much faster than one can comprehend before it’s too late. As such, participating in the GT3 test was one of the biggest challenges for Max Verstappen, which he thankfully conducted with great success.

I then think back to when DTM races were banned here because those cars were going too fast, but today’s GT3 cars are also insanely fast and everything happens neck-and-neck. Something happens faster than you think. Doing this somewhere else, okay, but for most people the Nordschleife still represents the biggest challenge.

Ralf Schumacher noted

Verstappen will now shift his focus from GT3 to Formula 1 as he prepares for the upcoming Emilia-Romagna GP. The Dutchman has faced a lot of struggles at the pinnacle of motorsport with Red Bull. Hence, his visit to GT3 might be a hint that he is considering making a switch in his career. Still, these talks are speculative until the 27-year-old makes any confirmation on his future plans.

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