Max Verstappen is used to stealing the spotlight in Formula 1, but this weekend, the Dutch driver is making headlines for a very different reason. He will be driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 instead of his Red Bull F1 car on one of the toughest racing tracks on the planet, the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Max Verstappen’s Weekend Journey From Formula 1 to “The Green Hell”
Known as one of the world’s most dangerous and demanding tracks, the Nordschleife is a true test for any driver. Jackie Stewart famously called it “The Green Hell” due to its unforgiving corners stretching for more than 20 kilometres through the German countryside.
For most drivers, simply surviving a lap here is an achievement, but for Verstappen, the challenge seems to have fueled his competitive fire.
Before officially lining up for his debut in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, Verstappen spent Friday testing the Ferrari and reportedly broke his own unofficial GT3 record at the circuit. Months earlier, Verstappen secretly tested the same car under the name “Franz Hermann” and clocked a 7-minute 48-second lap in the same car.
During Friday’s testing session, he improved by three seconds and set a 7:45 lap time. Although the times weren’t set on official timing equipment, the performance shows how quickly he adapted to GT3 machinery.
Max Verstappen casually going 24 seconds faster than anyone else and going purple in every sector during his first GT3 qualifying pic.twitter.com/lx5a9XJ4tZ
— Autosport (@autosport) September 27, 2025
That speed carried into today’s qualifying session for the ninth round of the NLS earlier today. Despite damp conditions and heavy fog delaying the start, Verstappen powered to third on the grid, and his first flying lap on wet tires was 20 seconds quicker than the next-closest competitor in his category.
Max Verstappen qualifies P3 at the Nürburgring!
Not bad for his first ever GT3 qualifying pic.twitter.com/HKBGzg2qL6
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) September 27, 2025
Other drivers soon closed the gap but Verstappen still ended up being third on the grid for his debut race which is an impressive feat against experienced GT drivers.
A New Chapter Beyond Formula 1 for Verstappen
Formula 1 is familiar territory for Verstappen. He is a four-time world champion with Red Bull Racing and one of the most dominant drivers the sport has ever seen, but GT racing is another world altogether. The NLS event has more than 100 cars spread across 20 classes, meaning Verstappen will face traffic constantly. He will have to manage traffic, deal with slower cars, and adapt to endurance-style racing.
Verstappen is sharing the Ferrari with Chris Lulham, a former sim racer and teammate from Team Redline. The two have already spent time together in testing, and their familiarity should help in a format where teamwork matters. For Verstappen, the long-term goal is to race in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, one of the toughest endurance events in the world.
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Since Verstappen’s participation announcement, the NLS race has drawn more attention than usual. The combination of a global superstar and one of the most feared circuits in the sport makes this weekend stand out. Endurance racing has been on the rise, and the presence of a global F1 superstar only adds to the buzz.
Fans tuning in will see Verstappen in a new light and on a track that has humbled even the best. And for the Dutchman, this weekend at the Nordschleife is a chance to take his passion for racing into uncharted territory.
