Verstappen receives Nordschleife license following his GT4 debut.

      "I'm happy it all turned out well."

      15 September 2025 - 09:38

      Max Verstappen has successfully obtained his license to race GT3 cars at the Nurburgring, having completed the necessary laps during his debut in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie. The 27-year-old four-time Formula 1 world champion teamed up with Lionspeed GP for Saturday's four-hour event, driving a Porsche Cayman GT4 limited to 300 horsepower according to Germany’s stringent permit regulations.

      Despite facing rain and reduced power, Verstappen fulfilled the required 14 laps, securing seventh place in his class and 27th overall. Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko shared with Auto Bild that he was impressed by Verstappen's approach. "In spite of the tedious bureaucracy at the Nurburgring, he maintains a very positive attitude and accommodates everything. He doesn’t ask for special treatment. That’s another aspect that distinguishes him."

      Nurburgring commentator Olli Martini praised him as well. "You can see that Max Verstappen completely respects and accepts this system. He simply drives a Permit B vehicle to participate. Other world champions, like Valentino Rossi, have said: no, I won’t do that," he noted. "Verstappen says, 'I want to take part and I’ll follow all the rules.' I can only express my gratitude to Max."

      The event attracted a large audience, with local media estimating around 50,000 attendees. Additional grandstands were erected for spectators to watch Verstappen tackle the challenging 24-kilometer Nordschleife. Although regulations typically require driving two different cars, damage to one of the vehicles led to a committee of series and federation representatives confirming that Verstappen would receive the sought-after Permit A.

      "I'm glad it worked out - that was the aim for this weekend," Verstappen stated afterward. "Naturally, I’d prefer to drive a faster car, but I was eager to obtain my license and complied with all their requirements. I also want to thank the organizers for their collaboration. I'm looking forward to driving on the Nordschleife many more times in the future. It's truly an incredible circuit."

      According to Auto Motor und Sport, Verstappen is anticipated to return to the circuit as soon as September 27, between the Baku and Singapore Grands Prix, likely piloting an Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. "We’ll be ready whenever Max wants to drive," confirmed team principal Lorenz Frey-Hilti.