Max Verstappen used his break from F1 ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to drive a Ferrari 296 GT3 car at the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit. The Dutchman drove the car under the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’ in a bid to evade attention at the track. The Dutchman has a vested interest in the GT3 category. He has a team, namely Verstappen.com Racing, entered in the GT World Challenge Europe series, with Thierry Vermeulen, Chris Lulham and Harry King piloting the Aston Martin Vantage AMR machine.

Ahead of the F1 race in Imola, Verstappen enjoyed a stint behind the wheel. This latest outing came at the Nordschleife circuit ahead of the third round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), with the four-time world champion piloting his own Ferrari 296 GT3 machine, decked out in a Verstappen.com Racing livery.

According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, Verstappen’s entry into the official NLS test and set-up sessions was intended to remain a mystery, and so the 27-year-old competed officially under the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’. The name featured on the side of the car, along with the Dutch flag, although his real name featured on his suit and helmet.

Verstappen was there to help Emil Frey Racing with their set-ups for the upcoming GT3 races, but also to enjoy some laps around the legendary Nordschleife circuit. There were security guards in place, and photographers were not afforded entry into the team’s garage.

The Red Bull F1 star’s visits to the iconic German racetrack might not end here, either. He is reportedly planning to obtain the Nordschleife permit, which would allow him to compete in NLS races and the circuit’s 24-hour event, which is traditionally held in May or June.

For now, however, Verstappen must turn his attention back to the F1 season. He went into the 2025 campaign hoping to match Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive Drivers’ Championship titles, but after six race weekends, that looks unlikely.

Verstappen currently trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 32 points, and the McLaren driver is showing no signs of slowing down, scoring four victories in the last five Grands Prix. Lando Norris also remains a threat, although the Brit is 16 points behind his team-mate as things stand.

The Red Bull star will have a good idea of how his chances stack up next weekend. Christian Horner’s squad are bringing their first major upgrade package of the season to the Emilia Romagna GP in a bid to cut down McLaren’s considerable pace advantage.