Verstappen reveals details of Nurburgring Nordschleife test after lap record speculation

Max Verstappen has described his first time driving on the Nurburgring Nordschleife as «fantastic», with the four-time Formula 1 World Champion confirming rumours that he broke the GT3 lap record during sessions last week.

Verstappen competed in an official Nurburgring Endurance Series test at the wheel of Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3 machine while using the pseudonym of ‘Franz Hermann’ in order to go under the radar.

The Dutchman was there in support of his protégé, 22-year-old racer Thierry Vermeulen, as reports circulated that Verstappen had broken the circuit’s 7m 49.578s GT3 lap record, set by Norwegian Christian Krognes.

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«It was, yeah,» confirmed Verstappen, when asked whether his lap was faster than that record ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix this weekend. «But for me I’m not there to show that I can break a lap record or whatever record, I was just having fun and learning the track.»

The Nordschleife, also known as the ‘Green Hell’, hosted Formula 1 events throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with the last edition taking place in 1976 following Niki Lauda’s fiery crash, which nearly claimed the three-time World Champion’s life, before a shorter layout was constructed and used for the first time in 1984.

While Verstappen, who sits third in this year’s F1 Drivers’ standings after six races, had never driven around the notorious 14-mile circuit, he was no stranger to the venue, having sampled it numerous times courtesy of his sim racing hobby.

«I’ve never driven there in real life, not even with a road car,» he said. «Of course, I did spend a lot of time on the simulator doing thousands of laps, so that helped.

«When I got out there a few barriers were different, maybe a few kerbs were a little bit different, but I know the track layout well. It’s just getting used to the grip level of the car, the conditions, the new tarmac in places.

«At the same time I was there with my sim driver that now turned into a real driver. Even for him also to get up to speed there, because eventually we all want to do that race as a team. It was a very good day, we got lucky with the weather as well – it was nice and sunny. It was fantastic!»

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While falling short of committing to racing at the track in the future, Verstappen would in any case need to secure a DMSB (Deutscher Motor Sport Bund) Permit, which either requires him to compete in several categories to reach the GT3 level or be given special dispensation.