Max Verstappen has taken another big step in his motorsport career by securing the coveted DMSB Permit A at the Nürburgring. This permit grants Verstappen eligibility to race GT3 cars and compete in the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours. The reigning Formula 1 World Champion made his debut on the Nordschleife during a round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series. During the event, he successfully completed the required laps despite setbacks. His performance impressed officials enough to award the licence, opening the door to future races on one of the world’s most demanding circuits.
Verstappen sees Nürburgring debut as step toward 24-Hour dream
Verstappen described his first outing at the Nürburgring as a valuable step in gaining experience on the demanding circuit in his print media session. He admitted the “down-tuned” GT4 car was “not the most exciting to drive,” but said the mix of wet and dry laps helped him learn more about the track. Traffic management proved tricky, yet Verstappen stressed that every lap on the Nordschleife was enjoyable.
“It was good. I mean, I know that I needed to get my permit, so I had to do that race in a GT4 car. Of course, the car itself, you know, down-tuned is not the most exciting to drive, but on the other hand, you still learn a lot from a day like that. Luckily, it rained a bit, it was dry, so you know, you get more experience on the track.
“Dealing with traffic as a slower car is not always the easiest. And yeah, the rest, I mean, just staying out of trouble, really. But at the end of the day, I think any kind of lap that you drive around there, in any kind of car, is always fun.”
He praised the atmosphere, noting the passion of endurance racing fans who always line the circuit. For him, racing outside Formula 1 is a hobby, but the real motivation lies in his long-term ambition to contest the 24-hour race. Earning the licence, he explained, “was the perfect opportunity” to move closer to that goal.
“When you try to push it a bit, yeah, you see a lot of what is happening around you. The atmosphere is really good. I mean, a lot of passionate Endurance fans are always there anyway.
“I think still mainly a Formula 1 driver, for sure. And yeah, it’s kind of my hobby as well, you know, racing in other kinds of motorsport than just F1. And of course, my dream is eventually to do the 24-hour race, so I knew that that licence needed to come. Yeah, so it was the perfect opportunity to do so.”
Verstappen secured permit after clear-cut Nürburgring run
Verstappen admitted he felt uncertain on race day at the Nürburgring about the permit exemption. He said officials “were very helpful” and understood the problem he faced with the damaged car. He focused on completing the race without mistakes and made sure he met the main requirements. “I tried everything that I could to get the licence,” he explained. About an hour after the finish, “it was pretty clear” he would receive it. Verstappen pointed out that he stayed out of accidents and avoided any yellow flag infringements during the race of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie. That, he said, made the decision straightforward for the stewards.
Looking ahead, Verstappen stressed that Formula 1 remains his priority. He said his schedule will decide if he can take part in endurance racing next year. “It also depends on how the next season goes in F1,” he noted. With new regulations coming in, he admitted “it’s impossible to say now” if events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours will fit. Still, he made clear that the permit opened the door for opportunities beyond F1, even if timing remains uncertain.
“Well, like I said, they were very helpful. They understood the problem that we faced on race day. And I was like, well, we’ll see. It’s what it is. I tried everything that I could to get the licence, but I would say an hour after the race, it was pretty clear that I was going to get it. I was not involved in any kind of accident or a yellow flag infringement.
“So it was quite clear-cut. And for the future, it also depends on how the next season goes in F1. With new rules, it’s impossible to say now if I can compete in other things outside of that.”
Support from Red Bull key to Verstappen’s GT ambitions
Verstappen said he had full support from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko for his endurance racing plans. He explained that Marko was “very excited about it” and understood his passion because of his own background in endurance racing. Verstappen stressed that it was “very important to be able to do those things,” even if balancing them with a Formula 1 season could be difficult. He admitted the new regulations will already make F1 demanding enough and said it was “impossible to say right now” what his career will look like in five or ten years, whether in Formula 1 or GT racing.
“I think Helmut always, yeah, he’s very excited about it. He sees also how passionate I am about it and what I’m doing for it. He has raced, of course, himself in endurance, you know, so it’s easier to relate. For me, yes, it is very important to be able to do those things.
“Of course, how much I can do during an F1 season is a bit tricky, right? Also next year, new regulations, it’s, I think, already hard enough in Formula 1, but, yeah, we’ll just see how everything goes. I mean, for me it’s impossible to say right now what will happen in five or ten years on F1 side or GT side.”
