Verstappen Reveals Stunning Nurburgring Pace After Secret Ferrari GT3 Outing

Max Verstappen has revealed the incredible pace he achieved during a surprise secret outing at the Nurburgring Nordschleife last weekend. The reigning Formula 1 World Champion piloted a Ferrari 296 GT3, joining the Emil Frey Racing team.

Why it matters: Verstappen hinted that his unofficial lap time was faster than the existing Nordschleife lap record of 7:49.5, although he emphasized his focus was on enjoying the experience and learning the track with the team, who aspire to compete in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

The details:

• The outing was shrouded in secrecy, with Verstappen using the alias "Franz Hermann" to remain incognito.
• Despite the "Balance of Performance" (BoP) limitations on the GT3 car for competition, Verstappen's performance was remarkable.
• This was Verstappen's first real experience on the Nordschleife, despite extensive practice in sim racing.
• Red Bull had previously prevented Verstappen from driving demonstration laps at the circuit in 2023, but allowed this GT3 outing.

What's next: Verstappen has expressed a long-held ambition to compete in endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and this Nordschleife experience could be a step towards future GT racing appearances.