Max Verstappen honoured after historic victory: 'We have one guy to thank'

Verstappen Racing claimed its first-ever victory in the top class of the GT World Challenge Europe last weekend, ending a season blighted by misfortune.

And for driver Jules Gounon, the triumph belongs to one man above all others: owner and four-time F1 drivers' champion Max Verstappen.

It was at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours last Saturday that the team bearing the Dutchman's name secured its maiden Pro-class win in the GT World Challenge Europe, one of the most prestigious GT series on the continent.

Gounon and Daniel Juncadella converted pole position into victory in the weekend's opening race, which counted towards the Sprint Cup standings.

The result carried particular weight given the team's troubled season. The #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 had suffered a run of miserable luck throughout the campaign, from mechanical failures to being caught up in incidents entirely of others' making.

Just before Juncadella brought the car across the finish line, Gounon had already made it clear to GT World Challenge Europe who deserved the most credit.

"Well, we have one guy to thank, and that's Max, because he gave us so many opportunities during the winter to test. Many days with good tyres," he said.

Gounon was keen to emphasise that Verstappen's contribution extends well beyond simply writing cheques.

According to the driver, the Dutchman has been deliberately constructing the kind of professional infrastructure that serious GT outfits are built upon.

"And we have a great set of engineers, with the four of them, behind the scenes, working day and night towards this project."

"The goal for Max was to try to be one of the best GT teams in the world, and today, I think, we are doing well."