Max Verstappen does it again: In Imola, everyone is talking about him (and Franz)

It was a Max Verstappen you haven't often seen in recent months. Moments with the media are not his favourite activities, but in the Red Bull Energy Station, the reigning world champion was in a cheerful mood, generously answering all that the mass of journalists present fired at him.

The main topic of the day? That test drive in a GT3 car from Verstappen.com Racing on the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, where Verstappen reportedly broke the lap record, in his first appearance ever on that track. Max Verstappen is fast in Formula 1 - everyone knows that - but that day in Germany showed that the Red Bull driver can race anything on four wheels incredibly fast around a circuit.

Eventually, Verstappen wants to participate in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. "Yeah, I would like to do that in the future. That's why I'm doing all these things, to prepare a bit, get a bit of experience. So you don't need to do that in the future," he explained to GPblog and others.

Verstappen's very successful test clearly earned him the admiration from his colleagues, who, at some point in their careers, would also like to race on that amazing track in the Eifel. George Russell even admitted to GPblog that Mercedes had considered making room in his schedule to actually race on the Nordschleife

Humourously, the Brit said: “It helps when you've got your own private jet, so you get to places a little bit quicker," referring to Verstappen.

Two drivers in the F1 paddock had already their experience on the long version of the Nürburgring; Yuki Tsunoda and Nico Hulkenberg. The former was allowed to drive a lap during a Red Bull demonstration, albeit limited by the safety car that led him and set the pace.

Nico Hulkenberg also drove there, if only for a few laps, with his own car. Who knows, at a later moment in their lives, both drivers might do it again, but at high speed in a racing car.

And Franz? He had already withdrawn to his own space in the Red Bull hospitality. Because all was well and good with that GT car on the Nürburgring. Sunday, for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, then it's about the points. Then Verstappen wants to show that he's not only the best on the Nordschleife but also on the historic circuit of Imola.