Max Verstappen confirms next step with Nurburgring return on the cards
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates his victory at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver and reigning F1 World Champion, will return to the Nurburgring Nordschleife this weekend for the next step of his burgeoning endurance racing career.
Verstappen made his endurance debut earlier this month when he competed behind the wheel of a detuned Porsche GT4 Cayman in the CUP3 class at the Nurburgring, less than a week after winning F1’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Max Verstappen to return to Nurburgring after Azerbaijan GP victory
The Dutchman impressed away from F1 duties, lapping a massive 25 seconds faster than the next identical CUP3(G) car at the German venue.
Verstappen and teammate Chris Lulham ultimately finished seventh in the four-hour NLS7 race, with the Red Bull F1 driver successfully obtaining a Permit A licence.
Fresh from claiming a second successive victory at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it has been confirmed that Verstappen will make his latest appearance at the Nurburgring this weekend.
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Verstappen and Lulham will again team up to race a Ferrari 296 GT3 car with the Emil Frey Racing team.
The pair have been included on the entry list for the Nurburgring Long-Term Series race, a four-hour endurance test, which will commence at 1200 local time on Saturday September 27.
Verstappen and Lulham will be competing for overall victory in the Pro class.
The event will see Verstappen race the car with which he set an unofficial lap record at the Nordschleife in May, when he competed under the pseudonym Franz Hermann.
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In a statement on his official website: Verstappen said: “It is my passion to do these kinds of GT3 races too. I can’t wait!
“I’m passionate about racing, also outside of Formula 1.
“Every lap at the Nordschleife is a different kind of experience. The atmosphere is also really good and there are a lot of endurance fans present.
“It’s my hobby to race in other categories than Formula 1. My dream is to eventually participate in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.”
He added: “The Nordschleife is at the top of my list of tracks I want to race on, as it’s extremely challenging and demanding, with its enormous length and tight historic layout.”
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