On Saturday, the Nürburgring‘s Nordschleife circuit witnessed a spectacular display as Max Verstappen made his GT3 racing debut, driving the No. 31 Ferrari 296 GT3 for Emil Frey Racing. Known primarily for his Formula 1 achievements, Verstappen’s Nürburgring debut stunned fans and experts alike, as he quickly established a commanding lead through sheer skill and precision.
The infamous Green Hell, renowned for its demanding nature, proved no obstacle for the Dutch driver. Verstappen’s rapid adaptation marked a major moment in motorsport, drawing immediate attention to the extraordinary level of talent behind his seamless switch from Formula 1’s high-speed single-seaters to the endurance and technical challenges of GT3 racing.
Dominance on Track Leaves Experienced Nürburgring Competitors Behind
Starting from third on the grid, Verstappen executed a daring and flawless overtaking maneuver at the very first corner, instantly positioning himself at the front of the pack. From there, his Ferrari quickly pulled away, leaving spectators and rival drivers struggling to keep pace as his lead expanded aggressively.
Race commentator Bruce Jones captured the astonishing margin, stating,
“At this point in the race, we now have a 20-second margin,”
and adding,
“This is really unusual in this series. That’s how far clear Max Verstappen is in his Emil Frey Racing Ferrari.”
Verstappen’s domination of the race came shortly after his latest Formula 1 victory in Azerbaijan, proving his versatility across different racing formats.
Tom Bellingham highlighted Verstappen’s pace on social media, sharing,
“Max Verstappen’s current fastest lap is 6 seconds quicker than P2 and is only two seconds off the quickest ever NLS lap of the Nurburgring.”
Verstappen’s Nürburgring Victory Joins Him with Motorsport Greats
This triumph made Verstappen the first driver to win on his debut at the Nürburgring since 1977, placing him in exclusive company alongside the sport’s legends. The victory added a fresh chapter to Verstappen’s career as fans and commentators drew parallels to iconic racers known for excelling across diverse motorsport disciplines.
Reflecting his dominance, social media accounts tracked his progress, with Verstappen News posting,
“FOURTY THREE SECONDS AHEAD.”
Ferrari issued an unusual public commendation of Verstappen’s performance despite his affiliation with Red Bull in Formula 1. They noted his journey, from earning his GT3 license in a detuned Porsche Cayman to breaking lap records in the Ferrari 296 GT3 during private testing earlier this year, demonstrating his rapid mastery of new machinery.
Verstappen’s success at the Nürburgring has sparked speculation about his potential participation in the prestigious 24 Hours of Nürburgring race in May 2026. Should he compete and succeed, he would become only the second Formula 1 world champion, after the late Niki Lauda, to win this legendary endurance event, further elevating his legacy in motorsport history.
Max Verstappen’s current fastest lap is 6 seconds quicker than P2 and is only two seconds off the quickest ever NLS lap of the Nurburgring pic.twitter.com/ecbLW7vKjU
— Tom Bellingham (@TomP1Bellingham) September 27, 2025
FOURTY THREE SECONDS AHEAD pic.twitter.com/QIZ17Sbv72
— Verstappen News (@verstappenews) September 27, 2025
