Overview

• Paddock reports say Max Verstappen clocked a 7:45 in Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3 during a Friday session, which would set a new GT3 benchmark if confirmed.
• Rival drivers, including Maro Engel, questioned whether the car complied with Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie Balance of Performance rules and suggested it might have run closer to DTM specification.
• Verstappen rejected the claims and said the car ran under the proper conditions, urging critics not to spread rumors about setup or engine settings.
• In Saturday qualifying for NLS Round 9, Verstappen secured third on the grid on a damp track after opening laps on wet tyres before switching to slicks.
• During the opening phase of the four-hour race, broadcast commentators reported Verstappen leading by around 20 seconds after the first hour and later by roughly 43 seconds before pit stops reshuffled the order.