Under a pseudonym, Max Verstappen tests a Ferrari on the Nordschleife

"You can't keep me out of a circuit for long," assured us Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, who we met at Le Castellet during the Grand Prix de France Historique. The adage used by the American also applies to the one who continually challenges his pilots in F1 : Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman has been a young father since April 30th to his daughter Lily, but that hasn't stopped him from pursuing his all-consuming passion for motor racing. He took advantage of a weekend without Grand Prix action, between Miami and Imola, to travel to Germany and race on the legendary Nordschleife.

The four-time world champion took part incognito in the test session preceding the third round of the NLS this season. He took to the track with the Ferrari 296 GT3 of the Swiss team Emil Frey Racing for a few laps around the legendary Eifel circuit. Verstappen, who did not want to attract attention, drove under a false name: Franz Hermann.

Max Verstappen becomes Franz Hermann for one session

Although this name was written on the car alongside the Dutch flag, it was indeed Max Verstappen who was at the wheel, as indicated by the name on his helmet and suit. The Dutch driver was also photographed getting out of the car by our German colleagues of AMuS.

A big fan of endurance racing, and especially GT3 — where he has his own team competing in the GT World Challenge — Max Verstappen may be trying his hand at a category that could attract him after the end of his Formula 1 career. The driver Red Bull has never hidden the fact that he does not want to break longevity records in the premier class of motorsport, preferring to leave F1 relatively early to enjoy other disciplines while he still has good years ahead of him. For the moment, his contract with the Austrian firm runs until 2028 and, despite rumors of departure at Mercedes ou Aston Martin, he seems set to stay.

According to our indiscretions, this test could foreshadow a participation in the final round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), on October 11 between Singapore and Austin, with a view to a future participation in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. As early as 2026?

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With Valentin Glo