Max Verstappen 'secret trick' baffles rival drivers: 'Never thought of it'

Max Verstappen's GT3 team-mate Dani Juncadella has revealed how the F1 driver discovered a secret trick during his Nurburgring outing - one that established drivers had never thought of.

Between the Chinese and Japanese GPs, Verstappen took part in the NLS2 race at the Nurburgring and claimed victory on the road. 

However, his Mercedes-Benz GT3 car was disqualified hours later for using too many tyre sets, with Juncadella revealing how Verstappen's use of 'dirty air' had stunned rivals as they had not thought of his secret trick. 

"It was impressive to see how well he understood how to stay so close behind Christopher Haase," Juncadella told Motorsport.com. "It was the first time ever that he had to race this way in a GT3 car on this circuit."

"He actually did something very special that we talked about after the race. It's something I would never have thought of myself - and I've been driving GT cars for a long time. I'm not going to tell you what it is, because I'd rather keep that to myself. It's a nice trick he discovered. Maybe someday I'll tell you."

"It's not even so much about his driving style; it's the sheer self-assurance he has to jump into a car you hardly know, on a circuit that requires absolute self-assurance. And he was right on top of it from practice on Friday, including in the race.

"His experience in sim racing gives him an edge. Through all that online GT racing, he understands exactly how to race against others and how to read situations before they happen. It just shows how passionate he is about racing," the Spaniard said.