Max Verstappen shatters his own Nordschleife track record

Max Verstappen set an incredibly quick time during Friday testing at the Nordschleife ahead of his official GT3 debut, breaking his own record. The Red Bull driver was back in action with the Ferrari 296 GT3, the same machine he used several months ago under the pseudonym "Franz Hermann" when he recorded a 7m 48 lap. Now, according to paddock sources, Verstappen improved on that benchmark by three seconds, with reports of a 7m 45 effort from the German circuit – a new GT3 lap record. While these times remain unverified due to the absence of official timing equipment during the test session, the manually recorded figures suggest the Dutchman broke his own record. The reported improvement builds on Verstappen's previous Nordschleife running. That initial 7m 48 lap, achieved whilst racing incognito, had demonstrated his potential in the GT3 category before his official entry. Friday's track time provided valuable additional mileage ahead of Saturday's competitive running, allowing Verstappen to continue familiarising himself with the 296 GT3 around the 25-kilometre circuit. The test session served as final preparation for his debut, with Verstappen's experience making him a contender despite being new to GT3 competition. Based on Friday's running, Verstappen's transition from Formula 1 to GT3 competition continues to show progress ahead of Saturday's proceedings.