Max Verstappen turned test into a ‘madhouse’-Tom Coronel
The world of motorsport was abuzz last Friday when Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, was spotted testing a GT3 car at the iconic Nurburgring circuit in Germany. However, what made this sighting even more intriguing was that Verstappen was driving under a pseudonym, “Franz Hermann,” and didn’t have the requisite license to participate in the test.
Verstappen’s compatriot and fellow racing driver, Tom Coronel, was competing at the Nurburgring on the same day and shared his experience of the event on the Dutch language version of the RacingNews365 podcast. Coronel revealed that Verstappen’s presence caused a stir among the paddock, with many people eager to catch a glimpse of the Dutchman in action.
“I participated in the race, but Franz Hermann couldn’t participate in the race,” Coronel joked. “He didn’t have his license yet. On the Nordschleife, you need special permission and you have to do a certain course for that. And that course has not yet been done by our Franz!”
Despite not having the necessary license, Verstappen reportedly broke unofficial lap records during the test, with a suggested lap time of around 7:56. Coronel, who has experience racing at the Nurburgring, believes that Verstappen’s lap time is plausible given the speed of the GT3 car.
“He has a faster car [than the 992 Cup Porsche I race],” Coronel said. “They are driving in the other class, the GT3. Indeed, they were under eight minutes.”
Coronel also shared an amusing anecdote about the level of security surrounding Verstappen during the test. “Of course, I went to see Max for a while and also spoke to the bodyguards,” Coronel said. “They also took Rocco [my son] inside to Max, because he was obviously very much shielded from photographers and video.”
The news of Verstappen’s secret test at the Nurburgring has sparked interest and intrigue among motorsport fans. Many are wondering why the four-time F1 champion would go to the effort of obtaining a license to race at the Nurburgring, especially given his already impressive resume.
According to Coronel, the answer lies in the unique challenge and appeal of the Nurburgring circuit. “The Nordschleife is the dream circuit,” Coronel said. “Up and down, you fly with the car, it’s a circuit of between 20 and 24 kilometers, depending on which version you choose. 180 corners… You really have to get to know those, so they don’t want people with a driver’s license, an entry-level license, to suddenly join us. That’s basically what it is.”
As for Verstappen’s plans to obtain the necessary license to race at the Nurburgring, Coronel believes that it’s a matter of when, not if. “It doesn’t matter who you are, even if you are the king or queen,” Coronel said. “That does make it a bit odd, that a four-time world
