formula 1
World champion drives under the wrong name on a legendary course
10.05.2025Reading time: 2 min.
The Nordschleife has long been a Formula 1 racing calendar. Nevertheless, the world champion sneaked onto the legendary German race track.
It is no secret that Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is a big fan of the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring. Even when Formula 1, which actually no longer organizes a race in Germany, while the Corona period 2020 returned to the Grand Prix route in the Eifel, the Dutch emphasized that he would rather drive on the Nordschleife. At the time, he was asked whether he would like to do a round with his Formula 1 car there. His answer: “Better a race right away!”
In 1976, Niki Lauda had his dramatic fire accident on the Nordschleife, in which he suffered the hardest burns and barely escaped death. Since then, the premier class of motorsport has no longer run on the route called “green hell” due to its demanding and dangerous routes through the forests of the Eifel. In the meantime, (as well as in 2020) it was only returned to a newly created, much more harmless Grand Prix route.
Nevertheless, Verstappen was now able to fulfill the dream of the Nordschleife-if not in a Formula 1 car. On Friday, the four-time Formula 1 world champion made a few laps in a Ferrari GT car as part of the long-distance series on the Nordschleife. Curious: The 27-year-old was on the racetrack undercover. Instead of his actual name, the pseudonym “Franz Hermann” was emblazoned on his car.
However, the specialist magazine “Auto Motor und Sport” quickly recognized the world champion and reported with numerous photos of its excursion on the Nordschleife. Later Verstappen himself revealed his secret himself and posted some pictures on his X account. He stated that I had a lot of fun on the Nordschleife.
As “Auto Motor und Sport” continues, it is not said to have been the last excursion of Verstappen on the legendary race track. Accordingly, the Dutch would like to obtain a so-called “Nordschleife-Permit” this year, which entitles you to participate in official events in the long-distance series or the 24-hour race. “The Nordschleife is one of my absolute favorite racetracks,” he recently said at an online event: “And I hope that in a few years I can start with a real GT3.”
In Formula 1, Verstappen will only continue next weekend. On May 18, the race in Imola, Italy.