Max Verstappen Stuns in Super GT Test at Fuji Speedway

Max Verstappen stunned onlookers at Fuji Speedway by setting a lap time of 1m42.290s in a Nissan Z NISMO GT500, beating the benchmark set by Super GT star Atsushi Miyake after just two flying laps. The four-time F1 champion was in Japan as part of his preparation for next week's Nurburgring 24 Hours, continuing to expand his GT racing experience.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's rapid adaptation to a completely different car highlights his exceptional talent beyond Formula 1. It also underscores Red Bull's commitment to broadening his motorsport horizons and gives a glimpse of his potential in endurance racing, where he is steadily building a resume.

The details:

• Verstappen drove the 650hp Nissan Z NISMO GT500 at Fuji for the first time in wet conditions.
• After a brief installation lap, he was given flying runs. On his first timed lap, he came within a tenth of Miyake's 1m44.075s benchmark.
• His second flying lap produced a 1m42.290s, smashing the target time.
• Host Jeremiah Burton reacted: "That's insane! He's less than a tenth off in his second lap ever in this car."
• Verstappen admitted the changing conditions made it tricky: "It was getting a bit tricky to push... It was getting used to the car, how you go on throttle and braking."
• Miyake was impressed: "He is a world champion but I was curious to see how different his driving would be... I was really excited."

What's next:

Verstappen will race in the Nurburgring 24 Hours next week in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. He previously won his GT3 debut in a Ferrari 296 GT3 last year, and earlier this year won a Nordschleife race before being disqualified for exceeding the maximum tyre allocation. His steady progression in endurance racing suggests he could become a serious contender in the discipline.