Max Verstappen Defends Daniel Ricciardo’s Alter Ego Amid Light-h…read more
Max Verstappen has leapt to the defense of his former Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo and his comical alter ego “Frank Hermann,” urging fans and the media alike to leave the Australian driver alone. The lighthearted exchange began earlier this month when Verstappen himself adopted the pseudonym “Franz Hermann” while testing a GT3 car at the iconic Nordschleife track in Germany.
Verstappen, a four-time Formula 1 world champion, had used the name Franz Hermann as part of a testing session held under the radar at the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). Driving a powerful Ferrari 296 GT3 that boasts 600 horsepower, Verstappen completed several laps on the challenging Nordschleife circuit, a track often nicknamed the “Green Hell” due to its unforgiving layout and treacherous corners.
Speaking about the choice of his pseudonym, Verstappen revealed that the decision wasn’t entirely his own. “I was asked to pick a fake name,” he explained. “So I went with Hermann—trying to make it sound as German as I could.” The goal was likely to keep his identity relatively anonymous during the test and avoid the kind of media attention that typically follows his every move.
Not long after Verstappen’s playful choice of Franz Hermann made its rounds online, Ricciardo decided to join in the fun. The ever-charismatic Australian posted a video on Instagram of himself driving a tractor, humorously referring to himself as “Frank Hermann.” The post sparked amusement among fans, with many enjoying the tongue-in-cheek camaraderie between the two drivers, who share a long history from their time as teammates at Red Bull Racing.
The situation took another amusing turn when Verstappen, during a sim racing livestream, was asked about Ricciardo’s newly adopted identity. Staying in character, Verstappen playfully deflected the question and protected Ricciardo’s alter ego, saying, “He is busy in Australia, leave him alone!” His comment was delivered with a smile but conveyed a clear message that the duo was enjoying some harmless fun and that the joke shouldn’t be blown out of proportion.
However, not all reactions surrounding Verstappen’s GT3 outing were positive. Despite the jovial nature of the pseudonym story, Verstappen’s appearance at the Nordschleife drew attention for more serious reasons. The Dutch driver stunned motorsport enthusiasts by setting a lap time of 7:48 at the famed track—a remarkable feat for someone relatively inexperienced in GT3 racing. His performance prompted speculation that Verstappen might be eyeing a racing permit to participate in the NLS officially.
This speculation triggered a response from DTM driver Maro Engel, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to cast doubt on the significance of Verstappen’s lap time. Engel wrote, “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). Lap time: 7:48. Still impressive for a first visit to the green hell. Would be cool to see Franz compete!”
While Engel’s message concluded on a positive note, Verstappen was not pleased with the underlying tone, which implied that the performance was aided significantly by the car’s modified balance of performance (BoP) settings. Speaking during the Imola Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen addressed the remark with frustration. “That was a stupid comment,” he said firmly. “I went there to have fun and just drive my laps. I was just there to learn.”
Verstappen elaborated further, emphasizing that the outing was never meant to spark debate or controversy. “Then the record comes out of course, and it’s as if other drivers feel attacked. I’m just enjoying myself, and then you get that kind of unnecessary comment, which I find totally pointless,” he added.
Despite the minor controversy, Verstappen’s GT3 test and his humorous alter ego have captured the attention of fans and fellow drivers alike. The light-hearted pseudonym play between Verstappen and Ricciardo is a reminder of the camaraderie that still exists in the ultra-competitive world of motorsport. While the world watches every move Verstappen makes on the F1 circuit, it’s clear he also values moments of levity and freedom away from the spotlight.
Whether or not Franz—or Frank—Hermann make another appearance on the track remains to be seen, but for now, Verstappen has made one thing clear: just let them have their fun.
