Max Verstappen took a break from Formula 1 this week and indulged in a bit of secret agent roleplay — at 170 mph.
In an unexpected twist, the reigning F1 champion showed up at the Nürburgring Nordschleife on Friday to test a Ferrari 296 GT3, running under the fake name ‘Franz Hermann.
The Dutchman took part in an official test session of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) ahead of its third round, hopping into a car decked out in Verstappen.com Racing livery.
While his trademark helmet and race suit still bore his real name, the car itself featured only the mysterious ‘Franz Hermann’ pseudonym alongside a Dutch flag — just in case someone started putting two and two together.
His secret mission? Help his team tweak their GT3 setup while indulging in some GT3 fun on the legendary Nordschleife at the wheel of the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari.
Enforcing the illusion of anonymity, Verstappen’s garage was guarded like Fort Knox, according to a report from Auto Motor und Sport.
No photographers were allowed near, and team personnel weren’t exactly handing out ‘Franz Hermann’ autograph cards.
Still, despite the team’s stringent precautions it didn’t take long for the word to get out.
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Earlier this year, Verstappen.Com announced its racing programme that includes the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance championship, including the 24 Hours of Spa, with an Aston Martin Vantage.
But the Dutch team also fields its Ferrari 296 GT3 in the DTM, with Thiery Vermeulen, the son of Verstappen’s well-known manager Raymond Vermeulen.
According to AMuS, Verstappen’s presence at the Nordschleife is part of his plans to qualify for the special license required to take part in official NLS events as well as in the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
"The Nürburgring Nordschleife is one of my absolute favorite race tracks, and I hope that in a few years I can also compete here with a real GT3,” Max said last year.
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