Overview

• Max Verstappen secretly tested a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Nurburgring Nordschleife, using the pseudonym 'Franz Hermann' to avoid early recognition.
• He confirmed breaking the GT3 lap record with a time faster than the previous 7:49.5 benchmark, though official timing was not released.
• Verstappen explained the test was part of his preparation for a potential future entry in the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race.
• The outing drew praise from Timo Glock for its skill and pace but faced criticism from Ralf Schumacher over safety concerns at the challenging circuit.
• Verstappen emphasized his passion for GT racing and detailed extensive simulator preparation that helped him quickly adapt to the track.