Max Verstappen has obtained his Nordschleife license in a Porsche GT4 and talks about his motivation, Le Mans dreams, and aversion to the Indy 500.
Normally, Max Verstappen is the one who sets the tone on the racetrack as a four-time Formula 1 world champion. At the Nürburgring, however, he had to start small—with a compulsory exercise in a Porsche GT4. This is because training and racing in a less powerful car are mandatory in order to obtain the Nordschleife permit, which is a prerequisite for later starts in endurance races on the legendary track.
“It was good,” Verstappen said on Thursday in Baku. “I knew I needed my permit, so I had to do this race in a GT4 car. Of course, driving a detuned car isn’t the most exciting thing. But on the other hand, you still learn a lot. Luckily, it rained, then it was dry again, so I gained even more experience—including dealing with traffic when you’re the slower car. That’s not always the easiest thing. The rest was really just about staying out of trouble.”
In the end, the fun factor remains, even in a less spectacular car: “No matter what car you’re in, every lap here is just great. When you start to push a little, you immediately see what’s happening on the track. The atmosphere is fantastic anyway – lots of passionate fans who live and breathe endurance racing. That’s what makes it special.”
Verstappen: I’m not a rookie, but rules are rules
It was particularly noteworthy that Verstappen went through the entire process – including instructor laps and theory sessions. No special treatment for the world champion. “I think people were super helpful,” said Verstappen.
“Of course, we talked about how to make it as smooth as possible. Instead of just sitting in the classroom, we went out on the track, did a lap, and explained things directly. I’m not a complete beginner—some people who show up there are complete amateurs and don’t know the track at all. It was different for me; I’ve already done thousands of laps here. Plus the tests I did beforehand.“
Nevertheless, understanding the regulations was important to him: ”Of course, rules are rules, so you have to abide by them. At the same time, people were very open, and I think it worked out great in the end.”
Le Mans dream and other series: Indy? No, thank you
The key question for many observers was: Why is Verstappen doing this at all—in the middle of his Formula 1 heyday? The answer: a clear goal. “My dream is, of course, to drive the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring at some point,” he says. “That’s why I knew I needed this permit. It was the perfect opportunity.”
Is he aiming for the Triple Crown like Fernando Alonso? Verstappen waves this suggestion away: “Le Mans – yes. But I’m not interested in the Triple Crown. I like watching IndyCar, but I don’t need to drive it myself.”
This is a remarkable contrast to previous Formula 1 greats. While Alonso was determined to win the three classics (Monaco, Le Mans, Indy 500), Verstappen remains focused on what really appeals to him—without prestige projects.
Support from Red Bull: Helmut understands my passion
The fact that Red Bull, and Helmut Marko in particular, are not holding him back was crucial for Verstappen. “Helmut is very enthusiastic about it. He sees how passionate I am about it. He himself has raced in endurance sports, so he understands it very well.”
At the same time, Verstappen is aware of the limitations: “Of course, it’s difficult to do many things like this during a Formula 1 season. Especially next year with the new rules, Formula 1 will be tough enough as it is. So we’ll have to see how it develops.“
He doesn’t want to commit to a long-term perspective: ”I can’t say what will happen in Formula 1 or GT racing in five or ten years.”
Motivation for young drivers: Don’t just focus on Formula 1
Verstappen takes the opportunity to send a message to young drivers: “It all depends on your attitude. If someone is fixated on Formula 1, you’re talking to a brick wall. Many dream of it, and that’s understandable. But you should keep your options open in case it doesn’t work out.”
He himself sees enormous opportunities in endurance racing: “There are many opportunities to have a good career there. If someone realizes at some point that Formula 1 isn’t working out and then gets into a GT3 or hypercar, they quickly fall in love with it. Sometimes it just takes time to become open enough to it.”
Marko: Great that he’s turning to the right motorsport
In an interview with oe24, Helmut Marko talks about Verstappen’s Nordschleife trip—and is impressed. “I followed it from the sidelines. Thank God he passed everything,” says Marko. Commenting on the bureaucratic process, he says with a smile: “It’s unbelievable that he’s putting himself through this—cramming theory, doing laps behind an instructor. That’s just German bureaucracy.“
Basically, he had a positive attitude from the start: ”I think it’s great that someone who lives in this Formula 1 bubble is turning to real motorsport.”
Marko himself knows the Nordschleife inside out: “I’ve driven all kinds of races there, including the legendary 72-hour race. I still remember some of the corners exactly. It’s funny that I can now talk to Max about it – but he already knew the track from the simulator anyway.”
Colleagues in the paddock: From respect to amazement
Alexander Albon reports on conversations with Verstappen on the flight: “He loves GT racing. He probably enjoys it more than I do. He’s just someone who can’t stop driving—that’s what makes him unique.”
Isack Hadjar shows respect, but also distance: “I’m fully focused on Formula 1. We’re not at the same stage in our careers. I don’t even know the Nordschleife properly—only from video games.“ Oliver Bearman laughs as he recounts his only Nordschleife adventure: ”I was 15, my dad was driving the Audi Q7, my mom was screaming in the back seat, and I was telling my dad which corner was coming up. In the end, the brakes overheated, so we skipped the last lap—we needed the car for school the next day.“ Liam Lawson reports: ”I’ve never driven the Nordschleife in a race car, only in a rental car with Alex Albon. We chased each other via WhatsApp call – it was pretty fun.“
Nico Hülkenberg, 2015 Le Mans winner during his Formula 1 career, sees parallels in Verstappen: ”It’s admirable how much he puts into racing. He lives and breathes it 24/7. I admire that. For me, Le Mans was a refreshing change at the time – it even improved my Formula 1 performance.“
Oscar Piastri is thinking long term: ”Maybe someday. But races like that deserve respect, you shouldn’t just jump into them. There’s no time during a Formula 1 season. So probably not in the near future.”
