Max Verstappen endured a humbling debut in endurance racing after being overtaken by SEVEN cars before turn one in his first event.
The reigning four-time Formula 1 world champion made his bow in GT racing just six days after winning the Italian Grand Prix.
Unlike F1 drivers who use downtime between races away from cars, Verstappen has been competing in a different motorsport series.
In May, the Red Bull superstar went undercover as ‘Franz Hermann’ for a secret Nordschleife Ferrari test weeks after becoming a father.
Now, Verstappen is back at the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany using his real name for another venture into GT racing.
On Saturday, the 27-year-old took part in the 65th ADAC ACAS Cup, round seven of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS).
However, the Dutchman – who was driving a Red Bull coloured Porsche Cayman GT4 #980 – aptly endured a testing start.
Verstappen, who has cultivated a reputation in F1 for his aggressive style into turn one, instead found himself meekly surrendering to seven cars that overtook him down the start-finish straight.
Footage of the Belgian-born racer showed him enjoying a clean getaway as part of the second group of cars in the four-hour race.
Yet almost instantly, Verstappen appeared noticeably slower than rival cars in his rear that saw him plunge down the pecking order.
That is because the F1 champion is actually behind the wheel of a detuned vehicle, which artificially restricts his speed.
Verstappen lacks a full licence to race around the Nurburgring, despite becoming the youngest driver to start an F1 race in 2015.
Verstappen’s slower vehicle was overtaken by SEVEN cars before turn oneWhy is Verstappen’s car slower?
His Porsche Cayman GT4 produces just over 300 horsepower at 1,350kg under a Permit B spec, compared to the 425hp it usually boasts at a weight of 1,315kg.
A first-time Nordschleife participant has to have a minimum power-to-weight ratio of 4.2kg per hp limit, with Verstappen’s car in standard trim falling below that limit.
It means Verstappen has to race in an artificially powered-down car that is 130 horsepower slower compared to rivals in the same class.
As a result, the 66-time F1 race winner – who set an unofficial lap record at the circuit in May – was left without a shot at finishing first.
He only earned his B permit on Friday to feature in the race, with Verstappen still needing to collect two classified race results to obtain his A permit.
Verstappen became the youngest Grand Prix winner on his Red Bull debut in 2016Getty He won his 66th F1 race in Monza last SundayAFPRalf Schumacher blasts ’embarrassing’ rules
The younger brother of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher blasted the restrictions forcing Verstappen to earn a permit.
The German ex-Williams driver branded it embarrassing that someone of Verstappen’s credentials didn’t grant him an exemption.
He told Motorsport-Total.com: “Of course, I would have given him that immediately, or he would have been given a briefing about the Nordschleife and the specific things.
“That would have been the end of the cheese. The best driver in the world will be able to do it if the others can do it, I’m pretty sure of that.
“Instead of many people being happy that Max also brings this attention to the Nordschleife again, and for what all the drivers do there, people argue about the fact that he gets his permit before he even drives.
“That’s embarrassing.”
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