Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, recently made headlines by breaking the GT3 lap record at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. Driving a Ferrari 296 GT3, Verstappen managed to surpass the previous record of 7:49.5, although the official timing remains undisclosed.

The Record-Breaking Drive

Verstappen participated in the test during his weekend off between the Miami Grand Prix and the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Despite the impressive feat, he emphasized that his primary goal was to enjoy the experience and learn the track.

"It was [faster than the previous record], yeah," Verstappen said. "For me, I'm not there to show that I can break a lap record or whatever record, I was just having fun and learning the track together with the team."

Choosing the Alias Franz Hermann

To manage crowd sizes, event organizers asked Verstappen to use a pseudonym on the official entry list. He chose the name Franz Hermann, a distinctly German alias, to maintain a low profile.

"They asked me for a fake name, so I said let's make it as German as we can," Verstappen explained. "I knew that once I was there that people would realise -- but that's normal."

Future Racing Plans

Verstappen expressed his interest in competing in the Nurburgring 24-Hours race in the future. He views these test sessions as valuable preparation for such events.

"I would like to do that in the future," he said. "That's why I'm doing all these things, to prepare a bit, get a bit of experience. So you don't need to do that in the future."

Safety Concerns and F1 Cars

Verstappen also shared his thoughts on the challenges of driving modern F1 cars at the Nurburgring. He believes the current F1 cars are too low and stiff to handle the circuit's bumps and compressions effectively.

"I would not want to drive there with these [current F1] cars," he said. "It's too bumpy and too many compressions. Honestly, for me when I drove there I think the GT3 speed is perfectly fine. Anything above that becomes already a little bit more risky."

Conclusion

Max Verstappen's record-breaking drive at the Nurburgring not only showcased his versatility as a driver but also highlighted his passion for motorsport beyond Formula 1. His use of the alias Franz Hermann added an intriguing twist to the event, keeping fans and media guessing until the last moment.