Formula E star Antonio Felix da Costa has praised Max Verstappen for opting to explore his interests in endurance racing and for exposing it to a wider audience.
The Dutchman is racing in this weekend’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring, causing the event to be sold out for the first time in its history.
Verstappen’s high profile through his long and distinguished career in Formula 1 has led to a new level of interest in endurance racing, as well to his fellow competitors on the F1 grid.
Da Costa, a friend of Verstappen’s and former Red Bull junior, has glittering careers in both the all-electric championship and the World Endruance Championship, having been champion in both.
The Portuguese, having been a product of Helmut Marko, is one of the ‘old school’, instilled with the belief that a racing driver is a job, and if an extracarricular drive is offered, it should be accepted with relish.
And da Costa, speaking exclusively to Motorsport Week, believes that Verstappen has given endurance racing “a different set of proportions” with his involvement.
“I think Max coming across to do even GT racing, which is a lower thing than Hypercar if you want to put it that way, right?” he said.
“And, you know, I was chatting to Max over the weekend and he’s following everything, he’s watching everything, and he’s just a sports enthusiast and a motorsport enthusiast.
“So, to have him come and do what we do, it’s amazing. And, yeah, I’m exactly on the same frame of mind as him.
“If I could race every weekend, I would. If there’s a chance of winning, I’ll go. And I’m a racing driver, so I just want to race.”
As Verstappen tackles the ‘Green Hell’, da Costa will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing weekend in Berlin, and reinvigorate his Formula E Championship push.
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