Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Franz Hermann took to the Nordschleife over the weekend – hang on a minute, that isn’t quite right… Racing under an alias, Max Verstappen ditched his RB21 for a seat in a Ferrari 296!
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The Flying Dutchman proved his undyling love for motorsport and once again proved that his career could see a future outside of the top flight of the sport. The 27 year old took a slight detour from Formula 1 this past weekend, when he tested a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The four-time F1 champion participated in an official Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) test session with Emil Frey Racing, operating under the pseudonym “Franz Hermann.” Despite efforts to remain incognito, his distinctive Verstappen.com Racing livery and personal racing gear revealed his identity in no time!
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Verstappen’s involvement is part of his ambition to obtain a DMSB Nordschleife permit, a requirement for competing in events like the NLS and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. According to motorsport regulations, he must complete two races totaling at least 14 laps in a car of similar performance to a detuned Porsche Cayman to qualify for the permit. This test reportedly aligns with Verstappen’s broader interest in endurance racing. Through his Verstappen.com Racing program, he supports various racing activities, including participation in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance championship. While he remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028, Verstappen has expressed a desire to explore racing disciplines beyond Formula 1 – it is no secret that he is very quickly becoming disilusioned with the politics and beauracracy in the sport.
The test session concluded prematurely when the Ferrari 296 GT3 experienced technical issues and had to be recovered from the track. At the time of the incident, Verstappen was not driving; his teammate Chris Lulham was behind the wheel. After this Formula 1 weekend off, Verstappen is now scheduled to return to the fop flight of motorsport competition at the upcoming Imola Grand Prix in Italy.
