Verstappen hounded by fans and press during not-so-secret Ferrari test at the Nürburgring

The first photos of Verstappen's secret test appeared on Friday morning. Although the car displayed the name “Franz Hermann,” it was unmistakably Max Verstappen behind the wheel—his distinctive helmet and racing suit, which featured his real name, left little doubt. Additionally, clear photos of the Dutch driver in and around the pit box confirmed his identity, making the attempt at secrecy ultimately ineffective.

Max Verstappen reportedly brought security personnel with him to the Nürburgring — and it quickly became clear why. In video footage, he is seen being approached by a swarm of journalists trying to get a comment, only to be held back by his security team. Later, a sizeable crowd of fans gathered near the garage, trying to catch a glimpse of the Dutchman as he, now out of his racing gear, made his way to the car to exit the circuit.

Verstappen's test session at the Nürburgring appeared to have been cut short unexpectedly. A circulating photo showed the Ferrari 296 GT3 from Verstappen.com Racing being lifted onto a recovery truck. Notably, it wasn’t Verstappen behind the wheel at the time, but British driver Chris Lulham.

While it's possible that Max Verstappen drove the test session at the Nürburgring to assist his GT team in fine-tuning the car setup ahead of the upcoming ADAC NLS race, there's speculation that his participation may have had a broader purpose. Another theory suggests he was using the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Ferrari 296 GT3 and the Nordschleife layout in preparation for a potential future race appearance.