Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"

Aston Martin driver Nicki Thiim used Max Verstappen's appearance at the final race of the GT World Challenge Europe season in Portimao as an opportunity to make light of Formula 1's ongoing issues with its 2026 power unit regulations. The 50:50 split between an internal combustion engine and electric power has been a topic of much criticism, with Verstappen himself being vocal about his concerns.

Thiim, who qualified ninth in his Aston Martin Vantage GT3 alongside Mattia Drudi and Ross Gunn, praised the four-time world champion's racing mindset. He expressed his surprise and delight at having Verstappen join the final round, noting the positive impact it will have on attracting young viewers to the championship. Other drivers, including Jordan Pepper of the BMW factory team, echoed Thiim's sentiment, expressing respect for Verstappen and his decision to support the GT World Challenge Europe.

The high-level professional GT3 competition and the intense racing at the event have struggled to garner mainstream attention, but Verstappen's participation is expected to draw more interest. The three-hour race at Portimao will commence on Saturday at 5:00 PM local time, featuring a 61-car GT3 grid vying for the championship.