Max Verstappen, Formula 1 World Champion, conducted a test during the winter break with Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3 at Portimao. Emil Frey Racing sponsored Verstappen’s colleague and friend, Thierry Vermeulen, in the GTWC and DTM in the recently concluded year. Here are the behind-the-scenes details of the test, shedding light on a potential future entry with his own team—an ambition never concealed by the Dutch driver.
The test raised eyebrows as images circulated of Verstappen practicing with the DTM Emil Frey team in Portugal. While Vermeulen, a regular driver for the team and Verstappen’s Dutch compatriot, enjoys Verstappen’s support, the extent of their connection became apparent during the two-day test.
The test was not merely a joyous day on the track; Verstappen and Emil Frey collaborated to execute an extensive testing program with various setups and clearly defined goals. According to team boss Lorenz Frey-Hilti, the aim was to leverage the Formula 1 star’s driving experience to aid the development of the 21-year-old Vermeulen.
“The goal of the test with Max was to support Thierry and improve our performance with his feedback,” stated Frey-Hilti to Motorsport.com. “He drove on both days. We covered about 100 laps on the first day, alternating. We conducted many tests.”
“We are honored that he uses our racing team’s services, and we can work with him on test days. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Jos Verstappen, Thierry Vermeulen’s coach, and Raymond, Vermeulen’s father and Max’s manager, were also present at the Portimao circuit for the test. This wasn’t a coincidence; Jos Verstappen coaches Thierry Vermeulen, creating a family connection. Frey-Hilti was impressed by Max Verstappen behind the wheel, praising his ability to achieve remarkable results even in a GT3 car.
“It’s always interesting when you meet such famous people in person,” he said. “You think you know the person, but when you meet them in real life, you experience a completely different person. He’s incredibly down-to-earth and a really nice guy. It’s nice to see how passionate he is about motorsport and the results he achieves.”
“Even with a GT3 car, his feedback is on another level compared to anything I’ve seen before. He is world-class.”
Although Verstappen has limited experience with GT3 cars, he quickly adapted to the Ferrari 296, according to Frey-Hilti. “He got in the car, and from the first lap, he gave his best. If you look at his onboard footage and the data, the way he manages the car is extremely impressive. He quickly adapts to the car and always seeks to get the maximum out of it. There were also other GT3 cars on-site, and I can only say he is on another level compared to all the others.”
Vermeulen, relatively new to motorsports, started racing in GT4 only in 2020. In his debut season in DTM in 2023, he finished 16th for Emil Frey, achieving a best placement of fifth at Sachsenring.
Thanks to Verstappen’s speed, Vermeulen had much to learn from his more experienced compatriot. Frey-Hilti commented, “Thierry is very ambitious, and he naturally measures himself against Max’s times. It’s challenging because his benchmark is the best driver in the world.”
“There are many talented formula drivers who don’t shine due to their lack of experience in a GT3 car. Max is different. He can make anything with four wheels move incredibly fast.”
The two-day test not only benefited Vermeulen but was also advantageous for Emil Frey, who switched from Lamborghini to run the new Ferrari 296 in 2023. Verstappen had already helped the team gain crucial tenths in a previous test at Mugello in July 2023. “Especially in terms of vehicle development, he is brilliant,” said Frey-Hilti about Verstappen.
“The physics are the same everywhere, and the vehicle concept is different, but his contribution when we can test different setups with him immensely helps the vehicle’s performance. Of course, today we have an incredible amount of data to analyze, and in the end, the drivers must be able to put them into practice. But even in the last test, we were able to gain many new experiences in just two days and improve the car. This not only strengthens Thierry but also us as a team.”
“The precision of his statements is always surprising. He is extremely involved, and you can also see that he is constantly tinkering with setups in e-gaming. I was also amazed at his interest in motorsports in general, not just Formula 1. He knows every category, every race, every championship. He knows every series, every driver, every team.”
“When others go on their well-deserved vacations, he is still in full training and engaged in races. I think that’s what makes him a world champion.”
It’s not a secret that Verstappen also plans to establish his racing team in the future, focusing on GT3, both for cost reasons and to align more closely with his program. Currently, Max Verstappen has already created a racing team, Team Redline, although it is currently active only in the virtual world. The next step is to transform it into a track-ready racing team.
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