Max Verstappen To Make Nordschleife Endurance Racing Debut

• Max Verstappen will debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in an endurance race this weekend, driving a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS.
• The four-time F1 world champion must first pass an exam on Friday to obtain the necessary license.
• Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said the event is “an important distraction” to keep Verstappen motivated and happy.

Max Verstappen is set to make his first competitive start at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, with the Dutchman confirmed for an endurance race this weekend. The 13-mile circuit, known as the “Green Hell,” is regarded as one of the toughest and most dangerous racetracks in the world.

Earlier this year, Verstappen quietly tested at the Nordschleife under the alias “Franz Hermann” to prepare for an eventual entry. Now, according to German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, that debut has been scheduled.

Fresh off his surprise victory at the Italian Grand Prix – his third win of the Formula 1 season – Verstappen will switch focus to the Nordschleife. To compete, he must first sit and pass an exam on Friday that grants him the appropriate paperwork to race.

If successful, Verstappen will take part on Saturday in a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS. His target is to then step up to a Ferrari 296 GT3 run by Swiss team Emil Frey Racing before the weekend is over. Special dispensation would be required for him to switch into the more powerful GT3 machine.

The move adds fuel to ongoing speculation about how long Verstappen will remain in Formula 1, as he has repeatedly spoken of his interest in competing across different categories.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko emphasised the importance of these outside opportunities for Verstappen’s state of mind. “At a time when our Formula 1 car wasn’t running properly, he was there with great enthusiasm,” Marko told Motorsport.com. “It was an important distraction for his well-being.”

The Nordschleife has a fearsome reputation. Formerly the home of the German Grand Prix, it was the site of Niki Lauda’s fiery crash in 1976 that nearly ended his career. Despite modern safety improvements, it remains a daunting test for even the most experienced drivers.