Last week, F1 champion Max Verstappen made his debut alongside a new teammate, Chris Lulham, marking a significant step in Verstappen’s expanding motorsport career. The pair competed at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), where Verstappen participated in his first GT3 event, showcasing strong teamwork and promising results.
Driving the opening half of the four-hour race, Verstappen built a commanding lead of around a minute before handing the car over to Lulham, who maintained the advantage to clinch victory. This successful debut hints at more joint outings as Verstappen prepares for next year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours by gaining valuable GT3 experience.
Introducing Chris Lulham: Verstappen’s Rising Star Teammate
Chris Lulham, 22, is a key figure on Team Redline, a renowned e-racing outfit that also includes Verstappen among its drivers. Lulham first gained attention in the British Formula 4 iRacing Trophy in 2020, where he secured five wins, including the season opener, ultimately edging out Luke Browning, a current real-life Formula 2 title contender.
After joining Team Redline in 2021, Lulham earned several prestigious virtual endurance titles, such as the iRacing Nürburgring 24 Hours and the Daytona 24 Hours in GTE class, along with the VCO ProSIM Series championship. Transitioning from sim racing to physical events, Lulham dominated the 2024 Radical Cup UK, winning 16 of 18 races, and is set to make his official GT3 racing debut in 2025 in both the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance and Sprint Cups.
Following their strong performance at the Nürburgring, Lulham expressed his excitement on Instagram:
“What an experience this weekend to take home a victory on our debut at the NLS, thank you Max for flying out on track!”
— Chris Lulham, Racing Driver
Verstappen’s response was equally positive, posting with enthusiasm: “First of many!” alongside emojis of a salute and a flexed bicep.
From Virtual Tracks to Real Circuits: The Path of Modern Racer Chris Lulham
Lulham represents a growing trend of drivers who have transitioned successfully from digital motorsport to traditional racing. Following the footsteps of pioneers such as Glenn McGee—who became the first former iRacing competitor to win an FIA-sanctioned world title with his 2023 Super Trofeo world championship—Lulham’s move signals the evolving landscape of motorsport talent development.
This trend also includes NASCAR drivers Rajah Caruth and William Byron, the latter a multiple Daytona 500 winner and consistently competitive championship contender. Their paths illustrate how virtual racing skills are increasingly translating into success on conventional tracks, expanding the competitive pool in motorsports.
Significance and Future Prospects of the Verstappen-Lulham Partnership
The impressive NLS debut underlines Verstappen’s commitment to broadening his racing portfolio beyond Formula 1, while Lulham’s involvement highlights the rise of sim racers in professional motorsport. Their winning partnership could set a precedent for future collaborations as Verstappen pursues more GT3 races to prepare for the demanding Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance event next year.
This alliance not only adds depth to Verstappen’s racing endeavors but also showcases how traditional and digital racing worlds are converging, potentially reshaping talent pipelines and competition standards across motorsport disciplines.
