Max Verstappen career change confirmed as F1 champion to race in different series

Max Verstappen is set to turn his hand to endurance racing as he prepares to take to the track in Germany with Porsche and Ferrari during a week off from his Formula 1 duties

Max Verstappen will make his racing debut at the legendary Nordschleife circuit in Germany as he takes part in an endurance race this weekend – just a week after claiming victory at Monza.

The Formula 1 world champion has made little secret of his desire to take part in other racing series and embarked on a testing day whilst in hiding earlier this year. He recently drove at the 13-mile Nordschleife but did so under the nickname “the Green Hell” and with the alias “Franz Hermann” in a bid to prepare himself but remain quiet.

His debut endurance race has been confirmed by German publication Auto Motor und Sport and he is tipped to race in a Porsche Cayman GT4 CS on Saturday.

Before that Verstappen first must sit an exam on Friday to obtain the paperwork needed to race but should all good well then the plan is for the Dutchman to progress to racing a Ferrari 296 GT3 of Swiss squad Emil Frey Racing by the end of the weekend.

Red Bull racing advisor Helmut Marko has claimed that the endurance racing will help keep Verstappen focused and provide him with renewed motivation away from F1.

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“At a time when our Formula 1 car wasn’t running properly, he was there with great enthusiasm,” he told Motorsport.com. “It was an important distraction for his well-being.”

Red Bull are currently not providing Verstappen with a title-winning race and his dominance of the sport will almost certainly come to an end this year. His win in Italy bought an end to a four-month spell without a win, which has been unheard of over the past four years.

The Nordschleife is considered one of the most dangerous circuits in the world, albeit Verstappen has been vocal of his admiration for the track and its heritage. It was a former host of the German Grand Prix and the scene of Niki Lauda’s infamous fiery crash occurred in 1976.

Verstappen has previously refused to commit himself to F1 long-term and says he will remain as long as he’s enjoying his working environment, but hinted at potentially calling it a day in his early 30s.

He said: “Some people come here to just get the best out of their car because some don’t have a winning car. But that’s why I think: as long as I can do that, and I’m working with the people that I enjoy working with, then, yeah, we’ll drive.”

The Dutchman added: “I don’t know when that will stop. Is that 32? Is that 35? 36? I don’t know. It’s impossible to know.”