Max Verstappen Dominates Nürburgring Qualifying, Outpacing GT Class Rivals by Over a Minute

Max Verstappen Dominates Nürburgring Qualifying Ahead of GT Race

Max Verstappen, stepping away from F1 between Grand Prix, showcased exceptional pace at the Nürburgring, qualifying sixth in the CUP3 class for Saturday's four-hour NLS7 race. Driving a detuned Porsche GT4 Cayman, the F1 World Champion was a staggering 68.4 seconds faster than the next car in his specific CUP3(G) class.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation is crucial for him to obtain the specific license required to compete in future GT3 races at the legendary Nürburgring, including his long-term goal of the Nürburgring 24-hour race. His dominant performance, even in a restricted car, highlights his versatile racing talent.

The Big Picture:

The event took place on the full Nürburgring layout, combining the Grand Prix circuit and the challenging Nordschleife, making it a formidable 170-turn lap known as the 'Green Hell'. Verstappen has previously spoken about his extensive simulator training, which has allowed him to memorize complex circuits.

The Details:

• Verstappen's Porsche Caymans in the CUP3(G) class were detuned from 425bhp to approximately 300bhp.
• Despite the power reduction, his best lap of 10:21.591 was a full 68.5 seconds quicker than the second-fastest car in his class.
• He initially posted a 10:34.244, improving by 13 seconds by the end of qualifying.
• He will partner with 22-year-old Chris Lulham, his Team Redline sim racing teammate, in the race.

What's Next:

Verstappen will compete in the four-hour NLS7 race later on Saturday. He expressed his excitement, stating that the Nordschleife is at the top of his list of tracks he wants to race on due to its extreme challenge. His goal remains to qualify for the mandatory race permit needed for GT3 racing there.