Max Verstappen's bid for Nurburgring 24 Hours glory has captured attention across the Formula 1 paddock, with several of his peers openly expressing envy at his GT racing adventure. The Red Bull driver will pilot a Winward-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside teammates Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Lucas Auer in the legendary endurance event.

McLaren's Lando Norris recently experienced the Nordschleife firsthand during a tyre test, declaring it "the most fun I've had all year." Norris, who previously raced at Daytona in 2018, spent extensive time studying Verstappen's onboard footage to prepare for the challenging 20.8km circuit. Oscar Piastri joined him for the McLaren 750S excursion, while Haas rookie Oliver Bearman confirmed he'll be watching the 24-hour race.

George Russell remains keen to tackle the Nordschleife but awaits Toto Wolff's approval to take an F1 car around the historic track. Meanwhile, Mercedes protégé Kimi Antonelli appears closest to joining Verstappen in GT competition, having already requested a Nordschleife test after winning Italian GT races through his father's team. The 18-year-old has even suggested a potential Verstappen-Antonelli endurance pairing.

Verstappen's dual program demonstrates how top F1 talent increasingly pursues diverse racing challenges beyond their primary championship commitments. His success in GT racing could inspire more of his contemporaries to explore endurance events, potentially reshaping how young drivers view career development outside Formula 1.