Max Verstappen has explained how partner Kelly Piquet feels about his decision to keep racing GT cars on weekends away from Formula 1.
The Red Bull driver will head to Portimão for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup finale in the gap between the current triple-header and the Americas triple-header, sharing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat.
It leaves Verstappen with just a single free weekend across the final 11 rounds of the F1 season, amounting to seven consecutive weekends of racing.
The four-time F1 drivers' champion already runs his own outfit, Verstappen Racing, which competes in GT World Challenge Europe, DTM and Nürburgring endurance events through partnerships with teams including 2 Seas Motorsport, Emil Frey Racing and Winward Racing.
Verstappen himself has raced at the Nordschleife, including a class win at an NLS round last year and a stint leading this year's Nürburgring 24 Hours before a mechanical failure ended his race.
Asked how Piquet views his busy extracurricular racing schedule, Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365: "I think it helps that she comes from a family that races a lot. So I think she can understand a lot better [than most].
"Honestly, I always try to also combine stuff. So even if, let's say, you would be racing, maybe you can combine it with going around with the family a little bit, even at a race weekend like that."
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Verstappen reveals Piquet 'doesn't mind' his extra racing
Piquet, the daughter of three-time F1 drivers' champion Nelson Piquet and sister of Nelson Piquet Jr., has a racing pedigree of her own.
She shares a daughter with Verstappen and has a son from a previous relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat.
The Dutchman added that compromise is key to balancing the demands of family life with his packed schedule.
"So we're trying to see what we can do there, but at the same time, she knows that I need to feel good and just be happy also, right, for both sides," Verstappen said.
"So we just try to always find compromises from my side, from her side, and try to spend as much time yeah together within.
"But she doesn't mind it. I think she likes racing; it's not that she's against it, so that helps."
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