Verstappen Names Next Goal Away From F1 After Winning GT3 Debut at Nurburgring

Max Verstappen has named his next motorsport career goal away from Formula 1 after his stunning victory at the Nurburgring on his GT3 debut.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion partnered British driver Chris Lulham in a Ferrari 296 GT3 for Emil Frey Racing this afternoon at the Nurburgring's Nordschleife circuit.

Car number 31 driven by Verstappen won by more than 22 seconds to once again underline his credentials as one of the greatest drivers of the modern era and possibly all-time.

Verstappen was able to take part in the race in Germany away from F1 owing to a gap in the calendar, with the next Grand Prix being next weekend in Singapore around the Marina Bay Circuit.

The Red Bull driver is a long shot for a fifth driver's world championship this season in F1, despite back-to-back victories at the Italian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Verstappen is currently 69 points behind current leader Oscar Piastri with seven Grand Prix and three sprint races to come this year.

It would need Piastri and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris to drop a considerable number of points and Verstappen to capitalise on this for the Dutchman to truly be in genuine consideration for the drivers' title, but he cannot be totally ruled out at this stage either.

Max Verstappen won on his GT3 debut at the Nurburgring. (Image: Getty)

After his victory around the 12.9 mile Nordschleife, Verstappen gave his post-race reaction in German, and was a happy man after his victory around a circuit known as the Green Hell.

Verstappen said: "Yes, it was great. The first two stints as well, the car worked really well again. I already knew that in qualifying, but then in the race, yes… with the traffic everything went well actually, in those two stints.

"I think I didn’t make any big mistakes. Of course, to then win here, for the first time, is just great."

Verstappen was then asked by the interviewer what his next goal in GT3 is, and he responded by confirming he would eventually like to take part in the 24 hour race which takes place around the Nurburgring, as well as take part in more GT3 events when he can.

He said: "In the end, of course, I would really like to take part in the 24-hour race.

"Whether that happens next year, it’s hard to say, but of course we still need more experience.

"That’s how it is. I hope to drive more races next year as well."

Next year's 24 hour race around the Nurburgring's Nordschleife takes place from May 14 to May 17, inbetween the Miami and Canadian Grand Prix in the 2026 F1 calendar, so Verstappen could theoretically take part due to being free from F1 commitments that weekend.