Who is Franz Hermann? Max Verstappen shares details of Nürburgring GT3 test

Max Verstappen recently participated in an official Nürburgring Endurance Series test, driving Emil Frey Racing's Ferrari 296 GT3 under the pseudonym "Franz Hermann." The four-time Formula 1 champion confirmed he was faster than the existing NLS GT3 lap record of 7:49.578, set by Christian Krognes.

Why "Franz Hermann"? Verstappen explained his choice of a German pseudonym: "They asked me for a fake name, so I said let's make it as German as we can." This allowed him to avoid immediate recognition on the entry list, ensuring a calmer start to his testing day. "At least I wasn't on the entry list. So at least at 8, 9 am it was pretty calm."

Test Objectives The primary goal of the test was not to break lap records but to gather experience and assist Emil Frey Racing in their preparations for potential future entries, including the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Verstappen expressed his own interest in competing in the endurance classic.

"With Emil Frey as well, they weren't there before, so for them also the dream is to do 24 hours there,” Verstappen stated. "We just had a good time getting up to speed; we were lucky with the conditions as well. It was really nice and sunny. So that's great if you can have that."

He added, "I would like to do that in the future. That's why I'm doing all these things to prepare a bit, get a bit of experience. So, you don't need to do that in the future. It's my passion. I'm running this year also with the GT3 team, I want to gather also more information for myself. And at the end of the day, it's my private time."

Preparation and Experience Verstappen honed his skills through "thousands" of simulator laps prior to the test, allowing him to focus on assessing the real-world grip levels of the track and the car upon arrival. He noted modifications to some barriers but emphasized his prior knowledge of the circuit.

Despite the enjoyment and adrenaline from his F1 career, Verstappen found the GT3 test a fun and valuable experience, albeit more relaxed. He managed the traffic on track, comparing it to similar situations encountered in simulation, and emphasized the importance of knowing when and where to overtake safely.

To compete officially on the Nordschleife, Verstappen would need a DMSB Permit, potentially requiring him to progress through racing categories or obtain special dispensation.