Max Verstappen marked a sensational debut in GT3 racing, securing victory at the legendary Nordschleife circuit in Germany. The Formula 1 world champion, known for his dominance in F1, teamed up with Britain’s Chris Lulham to drive a Ferrari 296 GT3 in the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS) race.
Verstappen started from third position and immediately made his move, taking the lead within the first few corners. During his stint, he built an impressive lead of over a minute. Lulham, who also competes for Verstappen’s Team Redline in sim racing, took over for the second half of the race, maintaining the lead to secure the win.
The win at the iconic ‘Green Hell’ was Verstappen’s first-ever GT3 race, and he expressed his excitement, saying, “To win on my first attempt here, it’s fantastic. The car was perfect, and I didn’t make any major mistakes.” This victory follows a strong month where Verstappen won the Italian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, narrowing his gap in the F1 title chase.
Verstappen, who recently earned his GT3 license, has his sights set on more endurance racing in the future. Despite the increasing professionalism in Formula 1, where drivers rarely compete outside F1, Verstappen has expressed interest in racing at Le Mans. He also hinted at the possibility of participating in the prestigious Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2024, a major GT event that fits into a gap in the F1 calendar.
Looking ahead, Verstappen acknowledged that the 2026 F1 regulations could affect his decision to participate in other motorsport events, depending on Red Bull’s performance.
