RALF SCHUMACHER has blasted “embarrassing” rules forcing Max Verstappen to earn a permit before a race at one of the world’s most dangerous tracks.
Four-time Formula One world champion Verstappen is swapping open-wheel racing for GT endurance racing in Germany‘s Nurburgring Endurance Series.
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The Dutchman raced at the Nurburgring Nordschleife under the pseudonym of Franz Hermann in May, setting an unofficial GT3 track record during a test run.
However, this weekend the 27-year-old is being forced to retire his alter ego and race under his actual name between F1 events in Italy and Azerbaijan.
Verstappen is due to compete in the seventh round Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), but will not be able to compete at full speed because he does not have the necessary licence.
He would require an “A permit” to compete in full race trim this weekend.
With this permit Verstappen would likely take to the track in a Ferrari 296 GT3, but will instead reportedly compete in a detuned Porsche Cayman GT4 due to the lack of this top licence, leaving him without a realistic shot at victory.
And outspoken former F1 star Schumacher, 50, has slammed the rule as “embarrassing” for diverting the attention that would otherwise go to the Nordschleife.
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.
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“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.”
For the full Nurburgring licence, Verstappen must first prove to the German motorsport association DMSB that he qualifies for a “Permit B” by sitting a theory test today to judge his suitability.
Obtaining that will allow him to race, but only in an artificially powered down car compared to the A permit specification.
With the reduced spec, drivers must run in two races covering a minimum of 14 laps which covers at least 20 per cent of the race time to then get the full permit.
In specific cases, a panel of judges may determine a driver is good enough for an A grade licence based on just one race, which Verstappen will be hoping to prove.
Once Verstappen obtains his A permit, he will then be able to fulfil his dream of competing in the iconic 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
The Nurburgring is one of the most dangerous tracks in the world of motorsport, claiming the lives of 69 drivers across different formats.
Despite updates to try and modernise the circuit to minimise the risk to drivers, 12 have still been killed since 1998.
Schumacher, who competed in F1 for ten years between 1997 and 2007, admits he would no longer “have the courage” to tackle the track – having raced there in DTM for five seasons between 2008 and 2012.
He also expressed his surprise at Verstappen – who spoke to SunSport about dipping his toes into other motorsports – wanting to still race there following the birth of his first child, Lily, in May.
Schumacher added: “I definitely find it interesting that he still takes the time despite his children and obviously has so much fun with motorsport… But of course, the Nordschleife is not without danger.”
“I wouldn’t have the courage (to race there).
“Just the run-off zones, the differences with the different classes, at night in poor visibility.
“I have to say, hats off to the boys.”
If all goes smoothly this weekend then Verstappen will return on September 27 with Swiss team Emil Frey Racing for a full NLS outing in the Ferrari 296 GT3.
It would be his first official GT3 race on the 12.9-mile circuit.
