Max Verstappen is taking part in the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours, an endurance race that will test the Red Bull driver in a new discipline.

Verstappen has long been a fan of endurance racing, taking part in several virtual races from his simulator, though he is now stepping into a car.

It will be a challenge for the F1 driver, who has conquered the pinnacle of single-seater racing, to adjust and race with a different kind of machinery.

Despite his success with F1, endurance racing brings its own set of challenges and quirks that could trip him up.

Verstappen is well aware of the tricky nature of changing motorsport disciplines.

“The level is high, it’s super high,” he said. “Of course, maybe some people don’t know some of the drivers because they’re not so much into GT racing, but there are a lot of really good, even older — like very experienced — drivers.”

What can stop Max Verstappen?

A Balance of Performance kicks in during racing to ensure it remains competitive, which unlocks the addition of ballast, restrictor plates, fuel consumption limits, and aerodynamic restrictions.

There are cars that tend to hide their true pace until the end, essentially gaming the system and exploiting the rule.

Verstappen is well aware of the system, possibly instilling high confidence that can lead to

“At the end of the day, it will depend also a bit on your preparation and the final BoP,” Verstappen said. “From other cars, some are of course still hiding quite a bit.”

Additionally, he is driving a different car — a GT car that is quite different from the rocket-ship like desing of an F1 car.

In fact, his car will be made by an unfamiliar party: Mercedes.

“It’s just about opportunities that come along at the end of the day,” Verstappen said. “It’s always good to be close to the manufacturer as well, and I have a good relationship with them.

“We have the same mindset of how to approach things, and I think that’s why it just works really well. Everyone involved with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport as well, we spoke, and I think we were quite quickly aligned on what we wanted to do.

“That’s what I needed and what I wanted. That’s why we made that call.”

So much will be different for Verstappen in terms of the voices that he hears and the machinery under his feet, but knowing his competitiveness and endless experience in the simulator, he should be able to do his part and help Verstappen Racing take home a victory.