Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Max Verstappen is, beyond doubt, one of the best drivers of this generation. The Dutch driver already has four world championships to his name and has a liking for challenging himself. Fresh from his Italian GP win with Red Bull, Verstappen decided not to waste the break between the European leg and the Azerbaijan race at the end of the month, and headed to Nordschleife to earn his race permit.
The permit would allow him to race outside of F1 and in the GT3 cars in the upcoming months. In the F1 championship race, Verstappen is third despite his antics last Sunday, and the difference between him and the second-placed Lando Norris is still a huge gap.
Making a sixth-place finish on Saturday’s Qualifying in Class 3 at the Nordschleife, the best in his category, there is little doubt that the 27-year-old driver will be leaving a mark in this motorsport as well. Verstappen competed in wet-round seven of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), the 65th ADAC ACAS Cup, setting a best lap of 10:21:591, to finish sixth in the CUP3 class.
He was behind a blue Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Rs Clubsport for his effort of taking an A Permit, which requires two classified finishes, mounting up to 14 laps and would allow him to race in the 2026 ADAC RAVENOL 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
Verstappen, before the race, on his website, had said that racing was more than a profession to him but a hobby. He noted that he wished to qualify in order to acquire the required race permit that would allow him to race in a GT3 car. He noted that racing in Nordschleife was a wish as it was a tricky track to go around, with the enormous length and tight layout that are both demanding and challenging.
On Friday, Verstappen completed the theory exam and two practical exams in order to earn his DMSB B Permit. Back in May, he had completed a Nordschleife test, going under the name Franz Hermann and had been quite impressive.
In his F1 season, his Italian GP win was his third in the season, but it was a dominating performance. He had managed to keep the two in-form McLaren drivers at bay. No strategy was enough to keep him away from leading on the grid. His driving throughout the season has been rated highly, driving a not-so-easy car. There have been a lot of controversies surrounding his future with the Red Bulls.
He is the one driver that everyone wants in their garage as the number one driver. Verstappen has taken regular podiums this season, and though not as dominant as the last four seasons, he is still quick.
