Max Verstappen's Instructor 'Lucky' to Keep Pace During Nürburgring Permit Run

Max Verstappen successfully completed his Nürburgring permit requirements, aiming to compete in next year's Nürburgring 24 Hours. His driving instructor, Andreas Gülden, expressed profound admiration for the F1 World Champion's skill and focus, admitting he felt "lucky" to keep up.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's pursuit of a DMSB Permit A highlights his deep passion for motorsport beyond Formula 1, specifically his ambition to conquer one of the world's most challenging endurance races, the Nürburgring 24 Hours. This move signals a significant step for the F1 star into a different realm of racing.

The big picture:

To secure the necessary permit, Verstappen underwent an exam and practical driving tests on the Nordschleife. The process began with him obtaining a Permit B under Gülden's guidance, followed by laps in an actual NLS race to gather experience.

The details:

• Verstappen's initial laps for his Permit B were in a detuned Porsche GT4 Cayman, running at approximately 300bhp instead of its usual 425bhp, standard for drivers without the full permit.
• Instructor Andreas Gülden, driving a more powerful car, led Verstappen and confessed, "Luckily I had a lot more power, otherwise it might not have worked out."
• Gülden praised Verstappen's "tremendous" driving, even on slicks against Gülden's regular street tires, noting his deep interest in track specifics like racing lines in the rain and different asphalt types.
• Verstappen qualified seventh in the Cup3 class during the NLS7 four-hour race, completing 14 laps of the 'green hell' before handing over to teammate Chris Lulham.
• Despite a damaged car preventing him from completing all required Permit A mileage, the DMSB approved his Permit A due to his exceptional performance and experience.
• Verstappen stated, "I really enjoyed myself... It was good to drive stints in the race with traffic... I’ve gained experience in where the grip is and isn’t and completed a start procedure. It was really good to gain more experience on this circuit."

What's next:

With his Permit A now secured, Verstappen is cleared to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Reports indicate he might return to the Nürburgring as early as September 27 to race a Ferrari 296 GT3 car in another NLS event, further honing his endurance racing skills.