Red Bull Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen couldn’t contain his excitement as he witnessed close friend and fellow Red Bull racer Shane van Gisbergen emerge victorious in his NASCAR Cup Series debut.
The Dutch driver stayed up late after his Austrian Grand Prix win to cheer on van Gisbergen’s groundbreaking venture into the United States.
Taking to the streets of Chicago, the Kiwi showcased his immense talent, overcoming challenging conditions and securing a record-breaking win.
Not only did he narrowly miss pole position, but he also impressively maneuvered from the 18th spot to take the lead in the final laps.
In a heart-pounding finish, van Gisbergen managed to fend off his competitors, including Kaulig Racing stock car racing star Justin Haley, to clinch an unforgettable victory.
Verstappen and van Gisbergen are great friends and both compete with Red Bull Racing in different categories
Van Gisbergen gives F1 star Verstappen some pointers on how to rule the track in a V8 Supercars vehicle
The Kiwi star stunned the world when he claimed victory on debut in the street circuit NASCAR event in Chicago after earning an invitation to compete
The win means van Gisbergen etched his name in the NASCAR history books, becoming the first driver in six decades to win on their debut in the class.
Verstappen, known for his unwavering support of his friends and racing partners, joined the chorus of praise for van Gisbergen.
The two champions frequently engage in virtual races together, forging a strong bond beyond their respective racing series.
‘I stayed awake to watch it and I’ve never felt so nervous in my life watching someone else race and trying to win it,’ Verstappen said ahead of the Silverstone Grand Prix.
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‘I was literally screaming in front of my monitor for him to win that.
‘I mean, that’s really really impressive to jump in the car and you don’t know … they are very hard cars to drive. And he just goes in there and he absolutely dominates the race.
‘I know he’s a great driver. I know what he’s capable of. And I know how good he is in different kinds of disciplines.
‘He is great of course in V8s, that is what he knows, he’s great in the rally car as well, and clearly he is great in a NASCAR as well.
‘I mean, that’s Shane. He is a crazy right-foot braker still.’
Following his triumphant debut, van Gisbergen’s future in the Supercars Championship remains uncertain.
The Kiwi is well known for celebrating loudly and well into the night after winning and was quick to break open the bubbles in Chicago
Van Gisbergen could be ripping burnouts in the United States more regularly in the future, as he weighs up a more permanent move to NASCAR beyond next season
Team boss Jamie Whincup, of Triple Eight Race Engineering, has expressed a willingness to allow the Kiwi driver to explore new opportunities, potentially signaling a departure from the team.
Although initial statements suggested van Gisbergen could part ways after the 2023 season, recent indications from Whincup point towards a possible extension until 2025.
‘It’s too soon yet,’ Whincup said on Fox Sports’ Supercars coverage.
‘His father plays a manager’s role as well, so he’s here this weekend. I’ll no doubt catch up with him.
‘Nothing has changed from our point of view. Shane is contracted here for next year but then he’s got an opportunity to go overseas if he wants to in 2025.
‘It seems like he had a lot of fun, seems like he’s been enjoying himself, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he says ‘Hey, I want to go do something else in 2025’.
‘But at the same time, it’s a cool place to play car racing here in Australia as well. Not sure how it’s going to pan out, but we’ll see.’
