Daniel Juncadella Reveals ‘Disappointed’ Grid Reaction During Max Verstappen Nürburgring Appearance

Daniel Juncadella reveals the funny yet awkward reaction of fans on the Nürburgring grid when they realized he wasn't Max Verstappen. Read the full NLS report.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 10:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Magnetism of an F1 Icon at the Nordschleife

The presence of Max Verstappen at the Nürburgring for the 2026 NLS season opener transformed the traditional endurance event into a global media spectacle. Saturday’s race had been specifically rescheduled by seven days to accommodate the four-time World Champion’s free weekend between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. As a result, the grid was swamped by fans and photographers eager to catch a glimpse of the Red Bull driver in the Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. This intense level of scrutiny created a unique environment for his teammates, who found themselves operating in the shadow of the sport's most dominant figure.

An Awkward Exchange on the Starting Grid

Teammate Daniel Juncadella, a former Force India reserve driver and current Aston Martin simulator specialist, revealed the humorous reality of sharing a car with Verstappen. In a social media post accompanied by a laughing emoji, Juncadella described the moment he climbed out of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a large gathering of onlookers. He quipped that as he emerged, an audible, collective sigh of "ohhhh" rippled through the crowd once they realized the person under the helmet was not Verstappen. Juncadella took the moment in stride, jokingly reassuring fans that he understood their expectation of seeing the F1 star instead.

Historical Parallel: Interlagos 2014 and the Present

The partnership between Juncadella and Verstappen at the Nürburgring marks a full-circle moment for the two drivers. Their careers first overlapped twelve years ago during the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. At Interlagos, Juncadella made his final FP1 appearance for Force India, while a teenage Verstappen was completing his third practice session for Toro Rosso. While Juncadella’s F1 aspirations were hampered by a crash during that session, Verstappen famously produced a spectacular save at the Mergulho corner, signaling the start of a decade of dominance. In 2026, the two are finally competing as equals in the world of GT3 endurance racing.