Max Verstappen wins GT3 debut at the Nürburgring with Chris Lulham

Max Verstappen made his archetypal GT3 commencement astatine the Nordschleife and won, sharing a Ferrari 296 GT3 with Britain’s Chris Lulham successful a four-hour NLS race. Starting third, the four-time Formula 1 champion seized the pb successful the opening corners and built a cushion of much than a infinitesimal during his stint. Lulham controlled the 2nd fractional to seal a ascendant triumph successful a tract of much than 100 cars. “The archetypal 2 stints went truly well, the car worked perfectly successful the dry,” Verstappen said. “We had a spot of atrocious luck successful qualifying, nevertheless successful the contention everything with the postulation worked retired fine… And to triumph present connected my precise archetypal attempt, that’s conscionable fantastic.”

Two weeks earlier, betwixt the Monza and Baku Grands Prix, Verstappen completed the laps needed for a GT3 licence successful a Porsche GT4. He and Lulham past converted connected debut, prevailing by much than 24 seconds.

Context for his F1 campaign

The triumph caps a engaged month. Verstappen took the Italian Grand Prix and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to constrictive the spread to points person Oscar Piastri up of Singapore. He has spoken astir doing much endurance events, portion keeping Formula 1 archetypal erstwhile required. “Of course, I would truly similar to vie successful the 24 Hours astatine immoderate point,” helium said of the Nürburgring 24. “If it happens adjacent year, I’ll accidental truthful — nevertheless we inactive request much experience.”

Eyes connected endurance, with limits

Racing extracurricular F1 has go uncommon successful the modern era, though Nico Hülkenberg and Fernando Alonso person won Le Mans. Verstappen has ruled retired the Indy 500 but is unfastened to marquee GT races erstwhile the calendar allows. He noted that caller rules successful F1 volition signifier however overmuch other helium tin do: “It’s already hard capable successful Formula 1… It depends connected however adjacent play goes.”