Verstappen 're del Ferrari' - media italiani

      "The car performed exceptionally well in dry conditions."

      29 September 2025 - 09:57

      Max Verstappen made history at the Nurburgring over the weekend, achieving victory in his first GT3 race in the Endurance Series while driving a Ferrari. Partnering with fellow sim racer Chris Lulham in an Emil Frey Racing 296 GT3, the reigning F1 world champion and two-time Monza and Baku victor finished the four-hour race with a 24.5 second lead.

      The Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera celebrated the sight of the Red Bull driver succeeding in a Ferrari. "Verstappen was the king of the Nurburgring, behind the wheel of a Ferrari," the publication stated, adding that it was "fantastic publicity" for Maranello and could even ignite speculation about closer relationships in Formula 1. "Who knows, it might even signal a stronger bond that involves Formula 1 as well."

      Despite qualifying only third due to traffic and variable conditions, the Dutchman took the lead with an aggressive outside maneuver. He quickly established a lead of over a minute before passing the car to Lulham, who maintained the advantage. "It was fantastic," Verstappen commented. "The car performed superbly in dry conditions. Winning here for the first time is incredible. Ultimately, we’d like to compete in the 24-hour race. We hope to participate in more NLS races next year."

      The frenzied atmosphere surrounding Verstappen highlighted his global celebrity status. "We’re accustomed to quite a bit, but this is a completely different situation," one of his security guards remarked to NOS, noting that fans were pressing against the garage doors prior to the race. Extra security measures had to be implemented at the track.

      In addition to the Verstappen family news, Max’s father Jos secured the Belgian Rally Championship over the same weekend, finishing third at the East Belgian Rally. "You want to be as well-prepared as possible and have the right support around you," the 53-year-old stated. Jos also commended his son's growing passion for racing outside of Formula 1. "He still gives 100 percent to the sport and the team," he disclosed to De Telegraaf. "Red Bull must be very pleased to have Max. He’s genuinely a great guy—but you shouldn’t provoke him."