While his Formula 1 colleagues shone brightly in New York at the premiere of F1: The Movie , Max Verstappen opted for a different kind of spotlight. The 27-year-old Dutchman, a four-time Formula 1 world champion, touched down late on Monday night at a small airfield in Flamierge, Belgium, just 30 kilometres from the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. On Tuesday morning, he surprised fans and media by getting behind the wheel of an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 emblazoned with the Verstappen.com Racing logo under his alter ego ‘Franz Hermann’. The test, conducted hot on the heels of his second-place finish in the Canadian Grand Prix on 15 June 2025, underlines Verstappen’s passion for motorsport outside of Formula 1 and his ambition to prepare for future endurance racing.

Verstappen, who has never hidden his love for endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Nürburgring, once again used the alias Franz Hermann to avoid the attention of fans and the media. The tactic is not new: last month he appeared as Hermann during a test of a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, a circuit known as the ‘Green Hell’ for its challenging layout. During that test, held in the run-up to the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), Verstappen reportedly broke the lap record for GT3 cars with a time of 7:48, although official times have not been released. However, he denied that breaking records was his goal. “I was there to have fun and learn the track with the team,” he told RacingNews365 . His focus was on obtaining a Nordschleifen-Permit, a required license to compete in the iconic 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

The test at Spa-Francorchamps, which will host the 24 Hours of Spa in two weeks, fits into Verstappen’s wider plan to gain experience in GT3 racing. His team, Verstappen.com Racing, is already active in the GT World Challenge Europe, with drivers including Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham. During the Spa test, reported by Grandprixnews.com , Verstappen drove an Aston Martin GT3, a choice that has prompted speculation about a possible future partnership with Aston Martin, although sources such as F1-Insider.com stress that this is not an indication of a move to their Formula 1 team. Verstappen insisted that he enjoys these tests in his spare time: “It’s my passion. I want to learn more and prepare for the future,” he told Motorsport.com .

Verstappen’s dedication to GT3 racing extends beyond just fun. He’s already driven “thousands” of virtual laps on circuits like the Nordschleife via simulators, allowing him to know the layout inside out. “When I actually drove there, it was mainly about feeling the grip and the asphalt,” he explained to Formula1.com . His test at Spa was also intended to support his team and prepare him for future endurance events. Posts on X, such as from @ElReyGuiri, have been buzzing with excitement about Verstappen’s performance, with fans speculating whether he will set another lap record like he did on the Nordschleife.

Despite Verstappen’s busy Formula 1 schedule, he continues to make time for his passion projects. His teammate at the Nordschleife test, sim racer Chris Lulham, praised Verstappen’s input: “He pointed out little details in the 100-plus corners of the circuit,” Lulham told Motorsport.com . The partnership underlines Verstappen’s role as a mentor within his team. Meanwhile, the FIA ​​recently awarded him the highest Platinum status for sportscar racing, a step towards competing at events such as Le Mans, where he is targeting the hypercar class.

While the Formula 1 world follows Verstappen’s bid for a fifth title, especially after recent controversies such as his penalty in Spain, he remains focused on his wider motorsport ambitions. His performance as Franz Hermann at Spa proved that he is not just a Formula 1 star, but a versatile driver ready to conquer the endurance world. Fans are eagerly awaiting what ‘Franz Hermann’ has in store next.