In a dramatic twist that has sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, Lewis Hamilton has spoken out after news broke that Max Verstappen secretly tested a Ferrari GT3 car at the Nürburgring under a false name. The seven-time World Champion — now racing for Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc — didn’t hold back when asked about the incident.
Verstappen, fresh off a disappointing Miami Grand Prix, returned to Europe and participated in an official endurance test for the NLS series, driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 car. The Red Bull star was reportedly registered under the alias “Franz Hermann,” with tight security and no media allowed during the session. According to Auto Motor und Sport, it was not a private test — it was a fully sanctioned Ferrari event.
Reacting to the revelation, Hamilton voiced his concerns during a press briefing in Maranello: “If this was approved at any level inside Ferrari, then it’s a major mistake. You don’t let your biggest rival test your machinery — not now, not ever,” he said. “We’re building something here, and things like this can compromise all of it.”
Hamilton’s frustration is understandable. The secrecy of the test has left many within the Ferrari garage baffled, with some insiders reportedly unaware of Verstappen’s presence until after the session ended.
The British driver added: “This team has a legacy, and I came here to protect and push that forward. If there’s any confusion about where our loyalties lie, it needs to be sorted immediately.”
Verstappen, known for his love of endurance racing, has long hinted at a future in GT or Le Mans racing post-F1. While no official comment has come from either Red Bull or Ferrari, the fact that this test was sanctioned — not just a simulator run or private booking — has raised eyebrows throughout the paddock.
Speculation is now running wild. Was this a one-time opportunity arranged by a third-party sponsor? Or is Verstappen exploring a potential future switch to the Scuderia after his Red Bull contract ends?
With tensions already high ahead of the next Grand Prix, Hamilton’s strong words have only added fuel to the fire. One thing is clear: Verstappen’s secret Ferrari test has opened a new chapter in F1’s most heated rivalry.
