Verstappen hurt by accusations over Nurburgring record

When news broke from Imola on Thursday that Max Verstappen had set a Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record testing a GT3 Ferrari a week earlier, the reaction was a mix of astonishment and scepticism.

The idea that someone could simply show up and immediately outpace all the Nurburgring veterans seemed hard to believe for many, and sparked some spicy social media exchanges.

“So this whole Franz Hermann story. Where are the facts? I only see media headlines,” tweeted Porsche World Endurance Championship driver Laurens Vanthoor.

DTM racer Maro Engel joined in on social media, referencing “a few facts” – namely that Verstappen had supposedly been running with DTM Balance of Performance (BoP) settings. These include less weight, a lower ride height and more power than his Ferrari 296 GT3 would have to run in an official Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS) race.

The test day was part of preparations for one such race, which went ahead last weekend, but the test itself required no technical conformity.

Verstappen responded to Engel on Twitter: “False. Don’t spread things when you don’t know how the car was set up and our engine settings. Why would I join a NLS track day with the wrong BOP?”

Engel replied: “Seems like paddock chat was incorrect then.”

On Saturday evening at Imola, Verstappen openly admitted that Engel’s tweet had hurt him: “That was a stupid comment. I went there to have fun and just drive my laps. I [was] just there to learn.”

“Then the record comes out of course, and it’s as if other drivers feel attacked. I’m just enjoying myself, and then you get that kind of unnecessary comment, which I find totally pointless.”

Usually, Verstappen clarified, such things wouldn’t bother him. But in Engel’s case, it did.

“I know him. So yeah, then I think, ‘It’s probably better not to say anything.’ But I happened to come across it in my feed. Normally you don’t see that, but I’ve met him a few times in Monaco. I have a lot of respect for everyone in the GT3 world, and then I think, ‘This is just unnecessary.’”

The official NLS lap record is 7m49.578s, set during in November 2022 by Christian Krognes in a BMW M4 GT3. Verstappen reportedly smashed this record almost effortlessly.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Formula 1 star at one point made such a spectacular overtaking move on the outside of Hatzenbach corner that it was “almost hard to believe” that he was using the official NLS BoP.

Max Verstappen, Emil Fray Racing Ferrari 496 GT3

Photo by: Max Verstappen

David Perel, who was also participating in the test with a Ferrari 296 GT3, shared on social media that he had followed “Franz” for a few laps. He noted that Verstappen could “be a great driver if he takes it seriously”, but immediately added: “But also… he had plenty of power and top speed.”

For Verstappen, such comments have come across as an insult to his pride. When asked at Imola if it was true that he had been faster than the lap record, he simply replied: “I was, yeah.”

And when pressed on whether he had really used the official NLS BoP, he replied: “Of course. Otherwise it would be a bit silly to drive there.”

Verstappen Ferrari 296 GT3 was fielded by Emil Frey Racing (EFR) in the colours of his own GT racing brand, Verstappen.com.

Jurg Flach, technical director and operations manager at EFR, described Verstappen’s morning pace as “incredible”, adding that in the afternoon he was “a bit slower – perhaps due to traffic”.

Flach explicitly confirmed that Verstappen used “exactly” the BoP settings prescribed for an NLS race weekend. As for the fuel load, he mentioned that there was “a good amount” in the tank since “we never run empty.” It is believed that there were about 60 to 70 kilograms of fuel on board.

Max Verstappen, Emil Fray Racing Ferrari 496 GT3

Photo by: Max Verstappen

Engel, in a phone call with Autosport sister publication Motorsport-Total.com, quipped with a smile on his face: “Max is welcome to come to a race and prove it under real race conditions.”

While 27-year-old Verstappen had never physically driven on the Nordschleife before, he already knew the track from the simulator.

“I’ve done thousands of laps around there,” he said. “So for me, when I got there in real life, it was more knowing the grip level. You know, the new tarmac in places. And then the grip level of the car. And of course a few barriers here and there are modified a bit.”

This was not Verstappen’s first test in an EFR Ferrari either. Back in 2023, he tested for the team at Mugello.

“He got into the car and was immediately fast,” Flach remembers. “One lap to get a feel, and then he was off. When you see him, it’s no wonder he’s already a four-time world champion. The way he nails the times is impressive.”

The Nurburgring 24 Hours, which is the showpiece of the NLS series, is high on Verstappen’s bucket list: “Yeah, I would like to do that in the future. That’s why I’m doing all these things to prepare a bit. You know, get a bit of experience. So you don’t need to do that in the future.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner made it clear at Imola that Verstappen’s focus needed to remain on his main job despite such outings. Verstappen also said in Italy that leaving Red Bull for 2026 was “not my intention at the moment”.

What is certain is that Verstappen is serious about the 24-hour race. He is already in talks with the DMSB body, which issues the so-called ‘permit’ required to compete. Typically, the permit for the GT3 top class is only granted if a driver has completed at least two flawless NLS races in lower classes.

The likelihood that Verstappen would be granted a special exemption is considered low. Not even motorcycle superstar Valentino Rossi had this privilege to race on the Nordschleife in 2023.

It’s quite possible that Verstappen will soon be back at the Nordschleife to compete in the NLS. “Franz Hermann” might even participate in two races to earn the permit and dispel any accusations that the red carpet was rolled out for him while others had to meet stricter requirements.

The speculation about how impressive Verstappen’s unofficial lap record really was will likely continue until he proves under comparable race conditions that he can also win in the GT3 on the Nordschleife. And for those who know Verstappen, it’s clear: that day will surely come sooner or later.

Additional reporting by Filip Cleeren, Sven Haidinger and Heiko Stritzke