Max Verstappen has successfully achieved a significant milestone in his motorsport career, obtaining the coveted DMSB Permit A that allows him to compete in top-level racing on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. The reigning Formula 1 World Champion’s weekend at the German circuit marked his racing debut on the notorious track, despite not fully meeting all the initial requirements.
Theory and practice
Verstappen’s journey to secure the licence began on Friday with a mandatory theory examination at the circuit. This enabled him to participate in Saturday’s seventh round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS), where he partnered with Verstappen.com Racing driver Chris Lulham in a specially prepared Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS.
The Lionspeed GP-prepared vehicle was deliberately de-tuned from its standard power output to comply with the permit requirements. Verstappen’s challenge was to complete a minimum of fourteen laps during the four-hour endurance race, with the opportunity to drive two different cars – the #89 and #980 entries.
Overcoming setbacks
Unfortunately, Verstappen’s weekend didn’t go entirely to plan. Whilst he successfully completed the required fourteen laps in car #980, qualifying damage prevented him from driving the #89 entry at all. This meant he technically failed to meet all the standard conditions for the DMSB Permit A.
However, the DPN committee reviewed Verstappen’s case and made the decision to award him the licence despite the circumstances. The committee recognised that he had demonstrated sufficient competence and commitment during his time on track.
Valuable experience gained
Reflecting on his Nordschleife debut, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the experience. “I’m happy that everything went smoothly and that I obtained the DMSB Permit Nordschleife. I had fun, but that’s always the case here,” he said to Motorsport.com.
The Dutch driver highlighted the diverse conditions he encountered during the race: “It was also good to drive those stints in race conditions with traffic, so both faster and slower cars. There was a ‘code 60’ neutralisation, double yellows and yellow flags.”
“I drove in the rain, on a dry track, and in between. I learned where there is more and less grip and did a start as well. It was nice to gain more experience on this circuit.”
Future opportunities
With the DMSB Permit A now secured, Verstappen will not need to participate in NLS8, the series’ next race on Sunday. Instead, he can focus on entering the ninth round of the NLS in a fortnight’s time, where he’ll be eligible to compete in a GT3 car – most likely Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3.
The permit also opens the door to Verstappen’s ultimate goal: competing in the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours in the top class. This prospect clearly excites the Formula 1 champion, who spoke passionately about the unique challenges the circuit presents.
The Nordschleife’s special appeal
“There is only one circuit like the Nordschleife,” Verstappen explained. “It’s a challenging track: today we saw that on such a long lap it can be dry in one section while wet in another. The asphalt also varies depending on the place. That makes it difficult to connect everything together, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Looking ahead to potential future participation in the 24-hour race, he added: “To race here for 24 hours in a GT3 car would be amazing.”
