Max Verstappen, alongside co-driver Chris Lulham, has marked his debut on the notorious Nordschleife with a victory. The four-time Formula 1 world champion, who attracted a massive influx of fans, laid the groundwork for the day’s prize during his first two hours behind the wheel.
Just two weeks after obtaining his license, Verstappen returned to the famed ‘Green Hell’, as the Nordschleife is colloquially known. This time, he was in a Ferrari 296 GT3 from Team Frey, sharing the car with Chris Lulham. The Dutchman essentially decided the race at the start, where he outmaneuvered Norwegian Christian Krognes (Aston Martin) and gradually increased his lead over him and German veteran Frank Stippler (Ford Mustang) lap by lap. Verstappen built a one-minute lead, which was never threatened with his British colleague at the wheel. At the finish line, the duo had a lead of nearly half a minute.
For Verstappen, a great enthusiast of GT cars, this weekend’s 4-hour race is a stepping stone to more. Next year, he plans to participate in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
