14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
‘Secret' Verstappen Nurburgring GT3 test goes VIRAL
A 'secret' Verstappen Nurburgring GT3 test that took place last weekend – in between the Miami and Imola F1 GPs – is drawing a lot more attention than the dutchman would've liked. Following the birth of his first child to Kelly Piquet, rather than return home on his rest weekend, he instead turned laps in a Ferrari 296 GT3 race car.
The Verstappen Nurburgring GT3 test took place as part of a regular Nurburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS) practice session. And it was reportedly part of a larger record-breaking effort around the fabled Nordschleife track. In a bid for the Verstappen Nurburgring GT3 test to avoid detection, the quadruple world champion drove under the pseudonym 'Franz Hermann.' Video: F1Unrivalled on YouTube
Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has a son who drives the Ferrari 296 GT3 car in various European championships. And it is understood Verstappen is something of a driver coach and mentor to the young dutchman.
Nevertheless, footage of the not-so-secret Verstappen Nurburging GT3 test has gone viral. Onboard and offboard footage shows the Racing-branded car circulating at very high speed. There are even reports the 27-year-old set a new GT3 lap record around the treacherous racetrack.
A rumoured time of 7min 47sec is faster than the official GT3 lap record. However, Ralf Schumacher, whose son also competes in various GT3 series', believes Verstappen went even faster than that. 'I think he did a 7min 35sec lap, which is a really top time. It's really outstanding,' he said. Were Red Bull bosses happy to see their lead driver risking everything on his weekend off? Image: NLS
Another former F1 driver, Timo Glock, added: 'What I heard is that the first and second lap was already at the top level. He will have spent a lot of time in the simulator, but it proves his talent once again and how well he can adjust to any car.'
Could this signify that Verstappen might take a sabbatical next year to observe F1's all-new regulations? 'I can't imagine that. He has his own GT3 team, but he also still has too much fun in Formula 1 to just leave. Look at how quickly he drove in Miami even though he had just become a father. That proves that he still likes doing it,' Schumacher said.
'I know many people don't like to hear it, but I find it (the Nurburgring) incredibly dangerous. Especially when you're driving at such a high speed. Of course, we know that Max can drive better than most others. Certainly, if I was Max's team boss, I wouldn't find it in any way beneficial to drive on the Nordschleife,' concluded Schumacher. – with GMM
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