Max Verstappen might just be gearing up for a new chapter in his racing journey, as the four-time Formula 1 champ was recently spotted testing a Ferrari. And guess what? He tried to go incognito by using a fake name. Classic move.
During his two-week break from the F1 circus, the racing enthusiast Verstappen decided to hit the Nürburgring in a Ferrari 296 GT3 car. While he’s no stranger to testing different vehicles, this time he opted to go undercover as “Franz Hermann.” Sneaky, right?
According to Motorsport.com, Verstappen’s little joyride at the Ring wasn’t exactly a shocker. After all, he owns the Verstappen.com race team, which competes in the GT World Challenge. And wouldn’t you know it, the European racing series is set to take place at the Nürburgring in late August. Talk about perfect timing.
Now, what does Verstappen’s little detour into GT racing mean? Well, truth be told, it could mean everything or absolutely nothing. Red Bull bigwig Christian Horner didn’t seem too fazed by the whole ordeal, brushing it off as no big deal. Not even when Verstappen finally spilled the beans about his side gig in GT racing.
Horner mentioned in an interview with Goodwood Road & Racing, “Honestly, Max does his own thing. He’s got interests outside of Formula 1. He enjoys driving GT cars, simulators, LMP cars. He’s a bit old school in that he just wants to drive, and all the drama surrounding Formula 1 doesn’t sit well with him.”
After the first six races of the F1 season, Verstappen finds himself in third place. But hey, it’s still early days, and the championship race is far from over. The Miami Grand Prix last weekend saw Verstappen trailing behind leader Oscar Piastri by 32 points and Lando Norris by 16 points. But you know what? Verstappen probably couldn’t care less about the standings. Formula 1 doesn’t define him, according to Horner.
Horner added, “Max is unique in that Formula 1 isn’t everything to him. He’s in it for the love of the sport, and if that ever fades, he’ll move on to something else.” Whether that “something else” involves a Ferrari GT3 car or another racing series remains a mystery, at least for now.
In the grand scheme of things, Verstappen’s little joyride in the Ferrari might not seem like a big deal. But hey, who are we to judge? Maybe there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Or maybe not. Who knows?
In any case, one thing’s for sure: Verstappen is a man of many interests, and Formula 1 is just one chapter in his book of adventures. Whether he decides to stick around or venture into new territories, only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the racing world will be watching, waiting to see what move he makes next.
