Max Verstappen Fires Back After GT3 Nürburgring Record Sparks Controversy
Max Verstappen has responded strongly after Mercedes driver Maro Engel downplayed his recent performance at the Nürburgring. Verstappen took part in a test session at the iconic German circuit, driving under the pseudonym “Franz Hermann” for his own team, verstappen.com.
To the topic of the moment. Few facts to Franz Hermann GT3 Nordschleife Test: car was run in DTM spec BoP (less weight, more power, lower ride height than NLS BoP). Laptime: 7:48
Still impressive for a first visit to the green hell. Would be cool to see Franz compete! 😄— Maro Engel (@MaroEngel) May 16, 2025
In what was his debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a GT3 car, Verstappen reportedly set a lap time of 7 minutes 48 seconds — breaking the previous GT3 lap record of 7:49.578 held by Norwegian driver Christian Krognes. The outing caught the attention of fans and motorsport enthusiasts, with many praising the four-time Formula 1 champion’s adaptability and skill.
However, Engel wasn’t quite as impressed. Taking to social media, the Mercedes factory driver urged fans to put Verstappen’s lap into perspective. According to Engel, the Red Bull star’s GT3 car was running in a different Balance of Performance (BoP) configuration — specifically one used in the DTM series, which typically allows for reduced weight, increased power, and lower ride height compared to the setup used in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).
False. Don‘t spread things when you don’t know how the car was setup and our engine settings. Why would I join a NLS track day with the wrong BOP. Have a good one tomorrow 👍
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) May 16, 2025
Despite acknowledging Verstappen’s time as “still impressive for a first visit,” Engel suggested that the setup may have significantly contributed to the performance, hinting that the result may not purely reflect driving skill.
Verstappen quickly clapped back, refuting Engel’s claims. In a sharp reply, the Dutchman denied any suggestion that the car was using the DTM BoP configuration. He pointed out that it wouldn’t make sense to run the car with the wrong BoP for a proper NLS test session, especially since it was conducted during an NLS track day. Verstappen ended his response with a calm sign-off: “Have a good one tomorrow.”
While Verstappen is best known for his dominance in Formula 1, he has long shown interest in GT and endurance racing. He regularly participates in virtual endurance competitions with his own sim racing team, which has fueled speculation about whether he might make a transition to real-world endurance racing in the future.
FP1 CLASSIFICATION
Piastri leads a McLaren 1-2, Hermann seventh on debut #F1 #ImolaGP pic.twitter.com/sfdFSmp0uu
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 16, 2025
Adding a touch of humor to the situation, Formula 1’s official social media page also joined the conversation. During the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend, F1’s account posted the practice session classification and cheekily referred to Verstappen as “Hermann,” a playful nod to his Nürburgring alias. The caption read: “FP1 CLASSIFICATION: Piastri leads a McLaren 1-2, Hermann seventh on debut.”
Verstappen later explained the origin of the Franz Hermann pseudonym. Speaking to Motorsport.com, he said the fake name was chosen to minimize media attention during the test. “They asked me for a fake name, so I said, ‘Let’s make it as German as we can,’” Verstappen said. “Then you’re not on the entry list. Otherwise, people would wake up at 8 a.m. knowing that my name is on it.”
He acknowledged that while fans eventually found out about his presence at the track, the disguise worked well enough to keep the early hours quiet.
As Verstappen turns his focus back to Formula 1, he is currently third in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship standings. With the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix underway, he is determined to close the gap on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and keep his title hopes alive for a fifth consecutive championship.