Max Verstappen is back behind the wheel at the Nurburgring this weekend, putting in valuable laps at the Grand Prix circuit as he readies himself for a GT3 outing on the Nordschleife.
The reigning Formula 1 World Champion is set to make his debut in the Nurburgring Endurance Series aboard a Ferrari 296 GT3l, running under his Verstappen.com Racing banner.
He will share the car with long-time friend and sim-racing partner Chris Lulham in Saturday’s race in the “Green Hell.”
For Verstappen, the programme marks another step in his growing involvement in sports car competition. Earlier this month, he raced a Porsche Cayman in the same series to obtain the necessary permit to compete on the Nordschleife.
That run gave him his licence to take part in longer-distance events. This includes the 24 Hours of Nurburgring—an ambition he has spoken about pursuing for some time.
Verstappen is taking on drives outside of F1
The Ferrari he is now testing is also not unfamiliar. In recent weeks, Verstappen is understood to have shaken down the 296 GT3 in a private session, where he demonstrated his pace by lapping at record-setting speed.
Now, with official duties on the horizon, he is using the shorter Grand Prix layout to sharpen up before tackling the full Nordschleife.
It is also a symbolic return to the scene of a notable Formula 1 result. Back in 2020, Verstappen finished second at the Nurburgring during the pandemic-hit Eifel GP. This weekend, however, he swaps Red Bull’s F1 machinery for Ferrari’s GT3 contender in pursuit of a different type of success.
Verstappen has been candid about his enthusiasm for racing beyond F1. He described GT competition as part of his wider passion for motorsport.
While his calendar remains dominated by Formula 1, ventures like this highlight a driver eager to test himself across disciplines, on one of the most challenging circuits in the world.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen to return to Nurburgring for Ferrari GT3 outing
Discussion about this post