Max Verstappen wins the Nuburgring NLS race on debut

Formula 1 star Max Verstappen claimed victory in his debut at the Nürburgring NLS race. Teaming up with Chris Lullham, the duo drove their Ferrari 296 GT3 (car #31) to a dominant win, crossing the finish line 25 seconds clear of the competition.

Verstappen’s preparation for the event began back in May, with his initial test session in the 296 GT3 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Red Bull F1 ace quickly adapted, smashing a lap record of 7 minutes and 45 seconds during Friday’s free practice.

During qualifying, Verstappen and Lullham secured third place on the grid with a time of 8 minutes 9.126 seconds—three seconds behind the pole position. Once the race kicked off, though, Verstappen surged to the front right from the lights-out start.

The Emil Frey Racing Ferrari built a commanding lead of nearly a full minute at its peak. Although the chasing pack narrowed the gap toward the end, the team still sealed the win by 25 seconds when the checkered flag dropped.

Verstappen shows no signs of stepping away from GT3 racing anytime soon. Speculation is rife that he could return for the full Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance event in 2025.