Max Verstappen recently disclosed the reason behind his use of the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’ during a test at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, creating significant attention within the Formula 1 community. The four-time world champion chose this alias while testing a GT3 car at the famed German circuit earlier this year, explaining his motivation in a video shared by his GT3 team Verstappen.com Racing.
In May, ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Verstappen—who also owns the GT3 outfit Emil Frey’s partner team—participated in a test session at the Nürburgring. Although his presence at the circuit was expected, it was the fictitious name ‘Franz Hermann’ that sparked curiosity. Verstappen explained that the team suggested driving under a false identity, and he opted for a very German-sounding name to fit the location. As he said:
“Yeah, so the team Emil Frey—we have the GT3 car with them—they were like, ‘Mate, you can drive under a fake name. Do you have any recommendations?’ I was like, you know what, let’s make it really German. So I said, Franz Hermann.” —Max Verstappen, F1 World Champion
During this test, Verstappen not only raced under a pseudonym but also broke the GT3 lap record at Nürburgring. Later that month, he returned to Formula 1 action, securing a victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, continuing his dominant season.
Verstappen Reflects on Setting the GT3 Nürburgring Lap Record
Max Verstappen also talked about his achievement in breaking the Nürburgring GT3 lap record, describing his familiarity with the circuit through sim racing. He credited extensive virtual laps as helping him feel comfortable behind the wheel during the record-breaking run.
Verstappen detailed his run in the video shared on social media:
“7:56 on the VLN layout, so that was good. I think a few weeks before that, the pole [position] was a 7:51—and of course, we just ran it with a full tank, right? So, second lap was 7:54, and we went back out with a new set of tyres and did a 7:48. So this was good. I mean, the car was really nice to drive. I felt comfortable because I did like a thousand laps on the simulator.” —Max Verstappen, F1 World Champion
Before Verstappen’s record-breaking lap, the GT3 lap record at Nürburgring was held by Christian Krognes, who posted a time of 7:49.578 driving the BMW M4 in the GT3 endurance series. Verstappen’s 7:48 lap surpassed this mark, underscoring his adaptability and speed outside of Formula 1.
The Road Ahead: Verstappen’s Interest in Endurance Racing
Verstappen’s passion for endurance racing has been clear for some time, with hints about future participation in endurance events, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Whether he will balance his ongoing Formula 1 commitments with endurance racing remains uncertain but is a storyline many fans and analysts are watching closely.
His successful test under the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’ and the lap record achievement at Nürburgring add fuel to speculation that Verstappen may explore more opportunities beyond the Formula 1 grid, potentially broadening his racing career into endurance formats in the future.