Max Verstappen, after claiming victory in his debut GT3 race at the Nurburgring, also received a special award recognizing his outstanding performance. The four-time Formula 1 World Champion is steadily moving closer to fulfilling one of his long-standing ambitions as a driver: competing in endurance championships, ultimately aiming for the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Last weekend, he took a significant first step towards that goal by completing his first GT3 race at the Nurburgring, and his success did not go unnoticed.
An incredible debut: record-breaking performance at the Nurburgring
From the very first laps at the Green Hell, Verstappen’s talent behind the wheel was immediately evident. Remarkably, after just three laps, the Dutch driver set the fastest lap in his category, leaving far more experienced drivers trailing by several seconds. Considering that the circuit measures over 20 kilometers and that he had only practiced on a simulator beforehand, this achievement was truly extraordinary.
Having received the “Ok” from his team, Max completed his first full race weekend in the GT4 category, driving a detuned Porsche as a rookie. This initial experience paved the way for a rapid step up to a higher class. On Saturday at 12 PM, Verstappen started the 4-hour race at the Nurburgring behind the wheel of a Ferrari 296 GT3.
A special recognition
After handing the car over to his teammate Chris Lulham with a lead of over a minute on the closest rivals, the #31 crew of Emily Frey Racing secured the top step of the podium. During the podium ceremony, in addition to receiving the trophies for the victory, Verstappen was selected by the event organizers to receive the “Faher des Tages” award in recognition of his remarkable performance.
It is worth noting that this award was established this year, long before rumors began circulating about Verstappen potentially joining the German GT category. With this impressive debut and the special award, the world’s number one driver has made a significant stride towards a major ambition: participating in the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring next year.
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