Max Verstappen is confirmed to make his NLS debut in premier GT3 class, as Felipe Drugovich joins Andretti in Formula E plus F3 has new prize pool.
The 57th ADAC Barbarossa Prize on September 27, 2025, will make history. For the first time, four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen will be competing in a GT3 race in the Green Hell and is among the favourites. But the penultimate round of the 2025 ADAC Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie offers much more than just the world champion: the GT3 debut in the alternative fuel class, a surprising comeback, new “student drivers,” and even more girl power on the world’s most demanding race track. Tickets start at €25 at VLN.de/tickets. Young people up to 14 years of age are admitted free of charge. Those unable to attend can follow the race day via a free livestream on VLN.de.
Max Verstappen is fulfilling a long-held dream of conquering the Green Hell in a GT3 car at NLS9. He will be competing in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside Briton Chris Lulham. The duo had already tested the Ferrari in the Green Hell prior to NLS3. Two weeks ago, the pair drove their first race together in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS, earning the DMSB Nordschleife Category A permit. Lulham previously competed in the KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal race in August. “Every lap at the Nordschleife is a different kind of experience”, says Verstappem. “The atmosphere is also really good and there are a lot of endurance fans present. It’s my hobby to race in other categories than Formula 1. My dream is to eventually participate in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.” Verstappen and Lulham will face tough competition in the SP9 class.
Entry list: https://www.nuerburgring-langstrecken-serie.de/wp-content/uploads/ergebnisse/2025-09-27s.pdf
Felipe Drugovich in Formula E –
Andretti Global, a racing team under the TWG Motorsports umbrella, announced today that 2022 FIA Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich will join the team for Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Drugovich will partner with Season 9 Drivers’ World Champion Jake Dennis to complete Andretti Formula E’s driver lineup for the final season of the GEN3 Evo era. The Brazilian driver brings a championship-winning pedigree and broad international motorsport experience in single-seater and sports car competition to the Andretti Formula E team, highlighted by a dominant 2022 FIA Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship run that saw Drugovich earn five wins, 11 podiums and finish 101 points clear of his closest rival. Since 2022, Drugovich has served as a reserve driver for the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team, taking part in multiple Free Practice 1 sessions. He has also gained endurance racing experience at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in IMSA with Cadillac Racing, while showcasing his speed in Formula E by topping the 2023 Berlin Rookie Test and scoring points on debut at the 2025 Hankook Berlin E-Prix.
Drugovich becomes the first Brazilian driver to race for Andretti Formula E, joining a rich lineage of Brazilian talent who have competed in the series, including inaugural champion Nelson Piquet Jr., Bruno Senna, Felipe Massa and Season 3 champion Lucas di Grassi. His addition further strengthens Andretti’s presence in the all-electric championship, where the team has competed since the inaugural 2014/15 season as the grid’s first American entrant. Over that span, Andretti has earned 11 victories, 39 podiums, 14 pole positions, 446 laps led and 1,369 Championship points. Most notably, new teammate Dennis delivered the Season 9 Drivers’ World Championship, cementing Andretti’s status as one of Formula E’s most successful independent teams.
Drugovich joins Andretti Formula E at a pivotal moment for the Championship, with the highly anticipated next-generation car set to debut next year. His background in Formula 1 and endurance racing provides valuable development experience to support the team’s pursuit of performance, with his arrival also offering the opportunity to engage with Brazil’s passionate motorsport community. With São Paulo set to host the Season 12 opener on December 6, Drugovich will make his debut with the American team in front of his home crowd in what will be his first competitive race in Brazil since his karting days more than a decade ago.
FELIPE DRUGOVICH, DRIVER, ANDRETTI FORMULA E: “I’m so happy to announce that I’ll be joining Andretti Formula E, and I’m really excited about what’s ahead. My team and I have been in touch with Andretti ever since I won the Formula 2 title, so it’s great that we’ve managed to stay connected all this time and finally have the opportunity to work together. It’s been far too long for me without racing, so I’m incredibly motivated to get back on a racetrack. It means a lot to know I’ll be competing in every session and not just serving as a reserve, as I have done the past few years. I’m very thankful to the entire Andretti Global organization for believing in my potential and for being so supportive. A special thanks also to Roger [Griffiths] for reaching out and making this happen. I’m focused, motivated and excited for the future, and I know that Andretti has all the tools in place for me to achieve success. I’m confident this new chapter together will be a memorable one.”
ROGER GRIFFITHS, TEAM PRINCIPAL, ANDRETTI FORMULA E: “I am personally very excited to welcome Felipe to the Andretti Formula E team. Felipe is a driver who has been on our radar for some time, and we have watched his progress throughout various Formula E test sessions with a great deal of interest. He’s a fast and intelligent driver who has already demonstrated he can quickly adapt to the demands of the Championship, as we saw during his debut in Berlin. As we look at the re-development of the team under our new ownership structure, we see Felipe working alongside Jake as a hugely important part of both our present and our future in the series. We would also like to thank Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team for their support in allowing Felipe to fully commit to this exciting new chapter in Formula E with Andretti Global.”
Other news –
F3 announces prize money for Top 5 drivers: https://www.fiaformula3.com/Latest/2rhzMuXuBbsn5944FPwHhE/formula-3-announce-one-million-euro-prize-fund-to-support-top-five-drivers
Andretti Global names new team principal in IndyCar and Indy NXT: https://x.com/AndrettiIndy/status/1970858554895876232
Here’s Max Verstappen on Azerbaijan GP
[The story is as per press release]
