How Max Verstappen’s Nurburgring pole time compares to the GT3 lap record

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Max Verstappen bagged pole position for the NLS race at the Nurburgring Nordschleife on Saturday, outpacing his nearest challenger by nearly two seconds.

Verstappen’s other laps were affected by the ‘Code 60’ protocol, which forces drivers to slow down to 60kph for safety reasons. He is driving a Mercedes GT3 car in Red Bull colours for his eponymous team.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion is preparing for the 24-hour race at the iconic circuit. Saturday’s race only lasts four hours, with Verstappen racing alongside Jules Gounon, Lucas Auer and ex-F1 test driver Daniel Juncadella.

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Max Verstappen just over two seconds off NLS GT3 lap record

Christian Krognes holds the official GT3 lap record at the Nordschleife, having set a 7:49.578 in a BMW M4 in 2022.

Verstappen unofficially set a time in the region of 7:48 while driving a Ferrari last year, but the lap doesn’t count because it came in a practice setting.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen faces ‘even more painful’ Japanese Grand Prix with Red Bull after China retirement

His pole time on Saturday was a 7:51.751, which puts him just over two seconds off the ultimate benchmark, still an impressive feat given his relative inexperience and the disruption he faced during the session.

Anthony Davidson believes that Verstappen is the best F1 driver of the last 25 years, partly because he can jump in any car, be it open or closed-cockpit, and reach elite-level pace.

Max Verstappen is already beating the ‘heroes’ of GT3 racing

Dutch racing driver Jeroen Bleekemolen described Verstappen’s pole time as ‘ridiculously fast’. As he pointed out, second-place man Christopher Haase has won the Nurburgring 24 Hours twice (2012, 2014), while also taking a class victory in 2009.

Bleekemolen told RacingNews365: “You need a bit of luck with the traffic, but that doesn’t change the fact that his time is ridiculously fast. Christopher Haase, the number two, has won the Big 24 Hours many times and also had a pretty nice lap.”

“Very impressive. Of course, he is driving right at the limit and not going over it. But now all the top drivers are competing; it’s a really strong field of riders. Look at the list of names standing behind him.

“Those are all the heroes of the sport. Very impressive, incredible. Everything is well organised, but the fact that you just get in and do this every time is truly impressive.”

Verstappen has made it clear that he isn’t enjoying F1 after the regulation changes this winter. The battery management demands this year have made the flat-out GT3 experience all the more refreshing.

According to Helmut Marko, Verstappen once asked to drive an F1 car at the Nurburgring but Red Bull refused. Laurent Mekies has recognised that he can keep his star driver happy by allowing him a limited GT3 programme.