Max Verstappen Set to Make His GT3 Race Debut at Nürburgring Nordschleife
It’s now officially confirmed: Max Verstappen will make his GT3 race debut at the Nordschleife this weekend in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS).
The four-time Formula 1 world champion will share an Emil Frey Ferrari 296 with Chris Lulham for the four-hour race on Saturday.
Verstappen and Lulham will face strong competition in the SP9 class. Haupt Racing Team will field two Ford Mustang GT3s: one driven by Nordschleife veterans Frank Stippler and Vincent Kolb, who recently celebrated the Blue Oval’s first victory. In the second Mustang, DTM driver Fabio Scherer will share driving duties with Dennis Fetzer and Jann Mardenborough. Bastian Buus and reigning FIA World Endurance LMGT3 Champion Joel Sturm will pilot the Dinamic GT Porsche 911 GT3. Lap record holder Christian Krognes (7:49.578 on the NLS layout) will compete in the Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Getting a B Permit License
Verstappen recently earned his DMSB Permit Nordschleife A-license on September 13, 2025, granting him the right to race GT3 cars on the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife.
He obtained the permit after completing the required laps in a restricted Porsche Cayman GT4 within the NLS Cup3 class during the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie earlier this month.
The license ensures drivers gain experience navigating traffic and adapting to the unique challenges of the demanding circuit.
Why was Verstappen's car slower?
For his permit run, Verstappen's Porsche Cayman GT4 was limited to just over 300 horsepower at 1,350kg under Permit B regulations, compared to its usual 425hp at 1,315kg.
First-time Nordschleife participants must meet a minimum power-to-weight ratio of 4.2kg per hp, meaning Verstappen's car in standard trim fell below the required limit.
As a result, he had to race in a deliberately detuned car, around 130 horsepower weaker than his rivals in the same class.
This meant that MAX — who set an unofficial lap record at the circuit in May—was not in contention for a victory during this exercise.
With this license, Verstappen can now step into faster GT3 machinery. He is expected to make his competitive GT3 debut in Emil Frey Racing's Ferrari 296 at the upcoming four-hour ADAC Barbarossapreis event on September 27.
"My passion is to also do these kind of races. I knew that taking my licence needed to be done in a certain way and I have to say that they were all very helpful and supportive when I got there. But rules are rules and I get that," Verstappen said during Thursday's media day ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
"The down-tuned car was quite interesting to drive but honestly, very good collaboration. I got to do it in one race where sometimes you need to do it in two. They gave the option to do it in two different cars, so they were very thoughtful, helpful. Supportive as well because for them I think it was great to see.
I enjoyed it, even though the car was super slow I still had a very useful day because I managed to drive in the wet, I managed to drive in the dry afterwards, do a start, getting to know all the flag rules because they are a little bit different to F1.
At the end of the day it doesn't matter what kind of car you drive around the Nordschleife, it's always going to be fun when you push it."
Verstappen had previously tested Emil Frey's Ferrari GT3 at the Nordschleife, where under the pseudonym 'Franz Hermann' he unofficially broke the GT3 lap record.
Looking ahead, Verstappen aims to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours next season, scheduled for May 15-17, which conveniently does not conflict with any Formula 1 events.
"I like racing in general also outside of F1. I knew that if I wanted to get my permit I needed to do that race and we just went about, it was all organised very well, they were all very helpful as well from the organisation side," he added.
"Every lap that you do around there is a different kind of experience so for me it was still very useful even though people say the car is down-tuned and it must be very boring. Of course the car is not the most exciting to drive but I look at it in a different way.
You try to then focus on other things that might be useful in the future when you go there with a proper car. I had fun, it's a nice environment to be in, a bit different to F1."
It’s now officially confirmed: Max Verstappen will make his GT3 race debut at the Nordschleife this weekend in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS).
The four-time Formula 1 world champion will share an Emil Frey Ferrari 296 with Chris Lulham for the four-hour race on Saturday.
Verstappen and Lulham will face strong competition in the SP9 class. Haupt Racing Team will field two Ford Mustang GT3s: one driven by Nordschleife veterans Frank Stippler and Vincent Kolb, who recently celebrated the Blue Oval’s first victory. In the second Mustang, DTM driver Fabio Scherer will share driving duties with Dennis Fetzer and Jann Mardenborough. Bastian Buus and reigning FIA World Endurance LMGT3 Champion Joel Sturm will pilot the Dinamic GT Porsche 911 GT3. Lap record holder Christian Krognes (7:49.578 on the NLS layout) will compete in the Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
Getting a B Permit License
Verstappen recently earned his DMSB Permit Nordschleife A-license on September 13, 2025, granting him the right to race GT3 cars on the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife.He obtained the permit after completing the required laps in a restricted Porsche Cayman GT4 within the NLS Cup3 class during the ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie earlier this month.
The license ensures drivers gain experience navigating traffic and adapting to the unique challenges of the demanding circuit.
Why was Verstappen's car slower?
For his permit run, Verstappen's Porsche Cayman GT4 was limited to just over 300 horsepower at 1,350kg under Permit B regulations, compared to its usual 425hp at 1,315kg.
First-time Nordschleife participants must meet a minimum power-to-weight ratio of 4.2kg per hp, meaning Verstappen's car in standard trim fell below the required limit.
As a result, he had to race in a deliberately detuned car, around 130 horsepower weaker than his rivals in the same class.
This meant that MAX — who set an unofficial lap record at the circuit in May—was not in contention for a victory during this exercise.
With this license, Verstappen can now step into faster GT3 machinery. He is expected to make his competitive GT3 debut in Emil Frey Racing's Ferrari 296 at the upcoming four-hour ADAC Barbarossapreis event on September 27.
"My passion is to also do these kind of races. I knew that taking my licence needed to be done in a certain way and I have to say that they were all very helpful and supportive when I got there. But rules are rules and I get that," Verstappen said during Thursday's media day ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
"The down-tuned car was quite interesting to drive but honestly, very good collaboration. I got to do it in one race where sometimes you need to do it in two. They gave the option to do it in two different cars, so they were very thoughtful, helpful. Supportive as well because for them I think it was great to see.
I enjoyed it, even though the car was super slow I still had a very useful day because I managed to drive in the wet, I managed to drive in the dry afterwards, do a start, getting to know all the flag rules because they are a little bit different to F1.
At the end of the day it doesn't matter what kind of car you drive around the Nordschleife, it's always going to be fun when you push it."
Verstappen had previously tested Emil Frey's Ferrari GT3 at the Nordschleife, where under the pseudonym 'Franz Hermann' he unofficially broke the GT3 lap record.
Looking ahead, Verstappen aims to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours next season, scheduled for May 15-17, which conveniently does not conflict with any Formula 1 events."I like racing in general also outside of F1. I knew that if I wanted to get my permit I needed to do that race and we just went about, it was all organised very well, they were all very helpful as well from the organisation side," he added.
"Every lap that you do around there is a different kind of experience so for me it was still very useful even though people say the car is down-tuned and it must be very boring. Of course the car is not the most exciting to drive but I look at it in a different way.
You try to then focus on other things that might be useful in the future when you go there with a proper car. I had fun, it's a nice environment to be in, a bit different to F1."