Max Verstappen has earned a new racing license! On Saturday, the four-time Formula 1 champion made his NLS debut (Nürburgring Endurance Series) on the Nordschleife, earning him his DMSB Permit, a license to drive GT3 cars on The Green Hell. With this new license in his pocket, Verstappen is setting his sights on new challenges at the Nürburgring. He has already hinted at participating in the famous 24-hour race, a competition he has so far only experienced on a simulator.
“I’m glad it went smoothly and that I obtained the DMSB Permit Nordschleife,” Verstappen responded on his own website. “I had fun, but that’s always the case here.” The Dutchman was able to gain enough experience in just a few hours. “It was good to do those stints with traffic, so with faster and slower cars,” he explained. “There was also a code 60 neutralization; double yellow and the yellow flag. I drove both in the rain and on a dry track, and everything in between. I experienced where there is more and less grip and also did a start. All in all, it was nice to gain more experience on this circuit.”
‘That would be very nice’
Verstappen certainly has a passion for motorsport, but he also has a fondness for classic circuits like the Nürburgring. “There is only one circuit like the Nordschleife,” he continued. “It’s very challenging; we saw today that on such a long track it can be dry at one point, while it’s wet somewhere else. The asphalt also varies from place to place. That makes it difficult to tie everything together. At the same time, that’s what makes this track so special.” With his new license in hand, Verstappen is setting his sights on bigger races at the Nürburgring. “Driving a 24-hour race here in a GT3 car would be very nice,” he concluded meaningfully.
‘Franz Hermann’ had previously tested a Ferrari 296 GT3 on the German circuit. He has so far only driven the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring on the simulator. Before Verstappen ventures into such races, he could once again participate in an NLS race. For instance, an event is taking place in the weekend between the Grands Prix of Azerbaijan and Singapore. The question is whether Red Bull will allow him to make more endurance excursions. When he participated in the virtual 24 Hours of Spa during the 2024 Hungarian GP, he was already reprimanded by Helmut Marko.
