Max Verstappen, fresh off his victory at the Italian Grand Prix, is set to compete again at the Nürburgring Nordschleife during the upcoming Formula 1 mid-season break. The Dutch driver aims to race a Ferrari 296 GT3 car and will also be working on obtaining his Nordschleife license ahead of the Nürburgring Endurance Series’ ninth round later this month.
Verstappen’s Plans for Nürburgring Amid F1 Schedule Pause
While Verstappen remains committed to his full-time 2025 Formula 1 season with Red Bull, he will take advantage of the one-week break between the Azerbaijan GP and Singapore GP to race at the Nürburgring. Reports indicate he will pilot a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS on Saturday, September 13, to earn the necessary Nordschleife license.
According to Auto Motor und Sport, securing this license will allow Verstappen to participate officially and openly in the Nürburgring Endurance Series event with Emil Frey Racing. Notably, unlike in previous outings, Verstappen will use his real name, as the NLS championship no longer permits pseudonyms.
The Story Behind “Franz Hermann” and Verstappen’s Nürburgring Debut
Max Verstappen previously competed at the Nürburgring using the alias “Franz Hermann,” a name he adopted humorously during his first races at the track. Reflecting on the origin of this pseudonym, Verstappen shared that Emil Frey Racing suggested using a fake name, and he chose a typical German moniker.
“Yeah, so the team Emil Frey, we have the GT3 car with them—they were like, ‘Mate, you can drive under a fake name. Do you have any recommendations?’ I was like, you know what, let’s make it really German. So I said, Franz Hermann.”
—Max Verstappen
Verstappen also revealed some details about his lap times at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, indicating strong performances despite running with a full fuel load at times and leveraging simulator experience.
“7:56 on the VLN layout, so that was good. I think a few weeks before that, the pole [position] was a 7:51—and of course, we just ran it with a full tank, right? So, second lap [was] 7:54, and then we went back out with a new set of tyres and did a 7:48. So this was good. I mean, the car was alsi really nice to drive. I felt comfortable just because I did already like a thousand of laps on the simulator.”
—Max Verstappen
Current Season Performance and Championship Context
This year, Verstappen claimed his third race win at Monza, reducing his gap to Lando Norris in the championship standings to 63 points. Despite the Red Bull driver’s efforts, the McLaren MCL39 car has often set the benchmark, limiting Verstappen’s ability to surpass McLaren drivers on many circuits.
Still, these victories and ongoing race participation, including scheduled events like the Nürburgring competition, help maintain Verstappen’s competitive momentum and prevent his 2025 campaign from being dismissed prematurely.
Impact of Verstappen’s Nürburgring Endeavor and Next Steps
By securing a Nordschleife license and entering the Nürburgring Endurance Series officially under his own name, Verstappen aims to deepen his experience in endurance racing and enhance his skill set during the F1 break. This move may also broaden his racing portfolio beyond Formula 1 and strengthen relations with teams like Emil Frey Racing.
Watching how Verstappen performs in the demanding Nürburgring environment will provide insight into his adaptability and could influence his plans for future participation in endurance and GT racing events, especially during F1 off-weeks.
