Max Verstappen Reveals Details Behind Nürburgring Nordschleife Lap Record

Max Verstappen recently opened up about his unofficial Nürburgring Nordschleife GT3 lap record, achieved earlier this year under the pseudonym "Franz Hermann." The F1 champion shared the details of his stealthy outing and impressive performance in a conversation with presenter Chris Harris.\n\n### Why it matters\nVerstappen, known for his dominance in F1, demonstrated his exceptional talent beyond the Grand Prix circuit, solidifying his status as a versatile racing prodigy. His passion for GT3 racing and commitment to fostering sim talent also highlight his broader dedication to motorsports.\n\n### The backstory\n* Verstappen drove for the Emil Frey team, which owns his GT3 car.\n* The alias "Franz Hermann" was chosen to sound "extremely German" at the team's suggestion for anonymity.\n* Verstappen emphasized his love for GT3 racing, noting it's "just one of my passions."\n* He also revealed he now owns a racing team, giving a sim driver (Chris Lulham) a chance in real-world racing.\n\n### The record laps\nVerstappen detailed his lap times on the VLN configuration, which combines the Nordschleife and the Nürburgring F1 circuit:\n* First outing (full tank):\n * Lap 1: 7:56 (pole position a few weeks prior was 7:51)\n * Lap 2: 7:54\n* After a pit stop and letting his sim driver take laps, Verstappen returned for a second outing:\n * Second outing (new tires): 7:48\nThis 7:48 lap unofficially breaks Christian Krognes' VLN/NLS GT3 record of 7:49.578s, showcasing Verstappen's immediate comfort and speed on the challenging track, attributed to thousands of simulator laps.