Dani Juncadella reveals the "special trick" behind Max Verstappen’s GT3 dirty-air mastery

Dani Juncadella has lifted the lid on a remarkable detail from Max Verstappen’s latest Nordschleife appearance — a specific "trick" the Dutchman used to cope with aero-wash in traffic that even experienced GT3 drivers hadn’t considered.

For seasoned professionals, that was the true headline.

A first real Nordschleife dogfight

Verstappen’s previous NLS9 outing had been defined by clean air dominance. On that debut, he simply stretched away from the field. This time, the challenge was different.

The 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis forced him into his first genuine wheel-to-wheel battle on the Nordschleife in GT3 machinery — and it was here that he raised eyebrows.

"It was impressive to see how well he understood how to stay that close to Christopher. It was his first time ever having to race like that in a GT3 car on this track," Juncadella told Motorsport.com Germany.

Haase had already expressed admiration for Verstappen’s ability to shadow him through high-speed sections. But according to Juncadella, what happened behind the scenes was even more striking.

"He actually did something quite special that we talked about after the race. It’s something I would have never thought of myself — and I’ve been driving GT cars for a long time,” Juncadella revealed.

The Spaniard refused to disclose the detail.

"I’m not going to tell you what it is as I’d rather keep that to myself. It’s a nice trick he found out. Maybe I’ll tell you someday."

That secrecy only underlines how unusual the approach was — particularly coming from a driver in his first true Nordschleife dogfight in this category.

Confidence over style

For Juncadella, Verstappen’s edge is not rooted in an unconventional driving style.

"It’s not so much about his driving style; it’s the sheer confidence that he has to jump into a car you barely know, on a track that demands absolute self-confidence. And he was on pace from Friday practice onwards and in the race as well," he explained.

That confidence translated directly into performance. Verstappen set the six fastest lap times recorded by the #3 Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 during the race, pairing raw speed with composed traffic management.

Juncadella’s own stint was shaped by multiple Code 60 neutralisations, limiting outright lap time opportunities. Although he did not break the eight-minute barrier, he remained unfazed.

"There weren't many fast laps in my stint because of the neutralisations. But the car felt great. We didn't really have to worry about the Audi anymore because Christopher’s team-mate [Nico Hantke] was already in. He’s a bit less experienced and needs some more laps," he said.

By the time Juncadella handed over to Jules Gounon — reuniting with him after several years away from Mercedes — the team had built a 20 to 30-second cushion. Gounon later had to contend with the Rowe BMW, though strategy differences played a role, as the #99 M4 GT3 Evo was required to serve a pit stop 40 seconds longer at the end.

The sim racing factor

Juncadella also pointed to Verstappen’s extensive virtual racing background as a key contributor to his seamless adaptation.

"His experience in sim racing gives him an edge. Through all those GT races online, 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," he said.

Although the #3 Mercedes was ultimately stripped of its victory due to a tyre rule infringement, its on-track performance sent a clear signal ahead of June’s 24-hour race.

Verstappen and his team are scheduled to return for the 24h Qualifiers on April 18 and 19 in preparation for the Nürburgring 24 Hours — and if the Barbarossapreis performance is any indication, the paddock will be watching closely.