Following Verstappen's GT3 victory, the German Federation eased the licensing requirements for the Nordschleife.

Since his brilliant debut on the Nordschleife at the end of September, Max Verstappen has upset the permitting system necessary to race on the legendary Nürburgring circuit. In September 2025, Max Verstappen won his first GT3 race at the wheel of the Ferrari 296, which he shared with Briton Chris Lulham. Driver of Formula 1 For most of the year, however, he had to train virtually to participate in these types of races. This long-standing passion thus opened the doors to the Nordschleife for him.

Following his exceptional performance in his first GT3 race, Verstappen inspired the German Motorsport Federation (DMSB) to simplify the licensing process for driving on the Nordschleife. Sim racing will now be officially recognized as a valid reason for obtaining licenses for the German circuit, a first internationally.

Max Verstappen revolutionizes access to the Nordschleife

With these new rules, to obtain a DPN B license, drivers have three options: complete the standard course, finish two Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) races with a driver change (or one solo race), or combine one RCN race with three penalty-free winter rounds of the Digital Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (DNLS). For the DPN A license, sim racing alone is not enough. It is necessary to complete the mandatory online DPN training and at least eight penalty-free laps on the Nordschleife, with a maximum of two laps in qualifying.

Christian Vormann, sporting director of the VLN, highlighted Verstappen's impact: His participation demonstrated how crucial virtual preparation can be, especially on the demanding Nordschleife. His secret is sim racing. "Already recognized as a fully-fledged motorsport discipline by the German Federation in 2018, this practice now sees its role strengthened. Robin Strycek, motorsport coordinator for the DMSB, confirms: The new regulations for the Category B driving licence further strengthen the link between motorsport and race simulation. »

Since obtaining his DMSB Nordschleife Grade A license, which allows him to drive a GT3 car, Max Verstappen has made his ambitions clear. My dream is to one day participate in the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife. " he confided. The route known as the " the Green Hell " could therefore see the Dutchman tread his asphalt again, this time for the mythical endurance race, perhaps as early as 2026, if the F1 calendar allows it.

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