Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen added another chapter to his motorsport legacy on Saturday, storming to victory in his GT3 racing debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 entered by Emil Frey Racing and partnered with British driver Chris Lulham, Verstappen crossed the line 24.5 seconds ahead of Dennis Fetzer, Jann Mardenborough and Fabio Scherer’s Ford Mustang GT3, sealing a win in one of the most daunting venues in global motorsport.
The four-hour endurance event was part of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), where Verstappen and Lulham fielded a Red Bull and Verstappen.com-liveried Ferrari in a 110-car grid that included 10 in the top SP9 category. After qualifying third, Verstappen snatched the lead at the start and never looked back. “It was great,” Verstappen said afterward. “During my first two stints, the car was amazing. Everything went well in terms of traffic, and we didn’t make any big mistakes. To win my debut race here is amazing.”
Ferrari
Verstappen’s fascination with the Nordschleife has been no secret. Nicknamed “the Green Hell,” the 13-mile circuit has a fearsome reputation, having hosted the German Grand Prix in the past and been the scene of Niki Lauda’s infamous fiery crash in 1976. Earlier this year, Verstappen quietly tested at the track under the alias “Franz Hermann” as he prepared for this debut. His win now makes him one of the rare drivers to tame the treacherous course on his very first official outing.
The Dutchman’s interest in racing beyond Formula 1 has grown in recent years, with Red Bull increasingly open to letting him pursue opportunities outside the championship. Insiders suggest Verstappen’s long-term F1 future could hinge on the freedom he has to explore other disciplines. Speaking after his Nürburgring triumph, he hinted at even bigger ambitions: “Of course, we really want to race the 24-hour race here at the Nordschleife. If that’s going to be next year, I don’t know yet. We need more experience, so hopefully we can enter a few more NLS races next year.” He has also spoken openly about his dream of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ferrari
Lulham, his teammate, typically races in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup for Verstappen.com Racing, and their partnership at the Nordschleife marks an extension of Verstappen’s growing involvement in endurance racing. The pair’s performance, topping such a large field, was viewed as a statement of intent that Verstappen can succeed well beyond the confines of Formula 1.
Meanwhile, Verstappen remains firmly in the spotlight in F1. After his Azerbaijan Grand Prix win, he sits 44 points behind Lando Norris and 69 behind leader Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship. McLaren boss Andrea Stella recently warned that Verstappen is still very much in the title fight, despite the deficit. The Dutchman will return to the cockpit of his Red Bull for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, with momentum on his side after a flawless endurance debut.
For now, Verstappen’s mastery at the “Green Hell” adds yet another accolade to a glittering résumé—one that increasingly looks set to span far beyond Formula 1.