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EXCLUSIVE: Hamilton in a Ferrari at the Nurburgring? Max paves the way

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According to Nurburgring expert Mischa Charoudin, it’s a major win that Max Verstappen is so passionate about the Nordschleife and racing there and it could lure an F1 rival to the legendary track.

The seasoned Russian driver, who even spent some time living in the Netherlands, told GPFans that Verstappen has created the “third shockwave” for the iconic circuit.

This past weekend, the NLS2 race took place at the Nurburgring. Verstappen once again impressed everyone as he took part in the event.

The four-time Formula 1 champion secured the pole position on Saturday morning and led his team to a first-place finish after a fierce battle with Christopher Haase.

Although his team was ultimately disqualified for exceeding the allowed number of tyre sets, Charoudin regards Verstappen’s dedication to the Nordschleife as a genuine victory.

F1 HEADLINES: Aston Martin to swap drivers as team handed FIA lifeline

Sabine Schmitz sparked original popularity surge

Charoudin, who has been following the track for years, identifies three standout moments in Nurburgring history: “I call this the third shockwave of the Nürburgring,” he explains.

“The first shock came when Sabine Schmitz made headlines with her iconic Ford Transit lap on Top Gear. Back in the day, you could simply drive, park, and picnic on the circuit—it was essentially a toll road until it suddenly became world-famous.”

GPFans spoke to Nurburgring expert Mischa Charoudin
GPFans spoke to Nurburgring expert Mischa Charoudin

Verstappen draws new crowd to the Nordschleife

The second surge, according to Charoudin, was all about viral excitement. “In the late 2010s, social media exploded with crash videos from the track, and that really boosted its popularity.”

Then came Verstappen. “Just last year, the demand for rental cars and hotel rooms shot through the roof. Many people who had never even heard of the Nürburgring discovered it thanks to him. As a driver, fan of the region, and entrepreneur, that is incredibly exciting.”

Four-Time F1 champion remains down-to-earth

Charoudin also pointed out how Verstappen, despite being a world champion, never carries himself with arrogance at the circuit. “I really admire how approachable he is. He’s just one of the guys. His team also creates opportunities for drivers who might not always get the chance to shine.”

Hamilton would be a great addition

Having firmly established himself on the German track, Verstappen’s presence even opens the door for a bit of rivalry. “Maybe it’s time to bring Hamilton into the mix—imagine him in a Ferrari here,” Charoudin joked.

On a more serious note, he suggested the possibility of creating a separate class exclusively for Formula 1 drivers. “We need more of those superstars, and a dedicated SP9 F1 class would be perfect, much like how we have SP9 Pro and Pro-Am today.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen announces ‘natural next step’ away from F1

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Mercedes F1 star Kimi Antonelli feeling the pressure after Italian heartbreak

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Italian F1 star Kimi Antonelli has vowed to try and bring sporting glory to his country after a recent heartbreak.

The Italian teenager currently leads the drivers’ championship after back-to-back grand prix victories in China and Japan, and he’s the youngest ever driver to have topped the F1 drivers’ championship standings.

His most recent victory in Japan, however, came in the same week as an Italian sporting nightmare.

The national football team failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the third World Cup in a row that they have not qualified for.

Italy won the 2020 European Championships, but have struggled in terms of European qualification groups for World Cups.

Their underperformance has not been lost on Antonelli, who is determined to do his country proud by continuing to be victorious in F1 as the 2026 season progresses.

“Obviously, it’s a shame we’re not going to the World Cup this year,” Antonelli told Tuttosport. “I have wonderful memories of the European Championships.

“I remember being at the European Championship race in Naples, in Sarno, and after winning the race, my mother and I rushed to the car and drove home as quickly as possible because we wanted to watch the European Championship final.

“That was a wonderful time, because seeing the national team play in the European Championships was truly beautiful.

“Obviously, I was really disappointed not to see the national team qualify for the World Cup. It’s one more reason to try to continue to bring Italy to the top in my field.”

READ MORE: Williams snap up Mercedes F1 veteran in championship signing

Can Antonelli bring Italy the championship?

While Italian football fans are likely in despair at their country’s failure, Italian F1 fans are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, with Antonelli and Ferrari performing so well in F1 2026.

Italy has not had a serious contender for the drivers’ championship arguably since Alberto Ascari won it back in 1953.

Riccardo Patrese came a very distant second in the 1992 standings, while 1978 world champion Mario Andretti was born in Italy but was a US citizen and represented the US when racing in the sport.

Antonelli has the tools to become world champion, with Mercedes the dominant team in 2026, but time will tell as to whether he can sustain a challenge all-season long against his much more experienced team-mate George Russell, and with the Ferraris and McLarens closing behind.

READ MORE: FIA reveals deadline for F1 2026 regulation ‘tweaks’

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Lance Stroll GT3 Results: Qualifying times and grid order at Paul Ricard

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Where did Lance Stroll and his team qualifying ahead of Saturday’s race at Paul Ricard?

Qualifying for the first round of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe took place today (Saturday, April 11) with F1 star Lance Stroll taking to the track with Aston Martin ahead of the main night race.

The Canadian driver made his GT3 debut at Paul Ricard, piloting the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Comtoyou Racing on Saturday, alongside team-mates Roberto Merhi and Mari Boya.

The F1 2026 campaign is currently undergoing an enforced break after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were both cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with Stroll taking advantage of his newfound free time by making a series switch.

Qualifying at Paul Ricard was split into three sessions (Qualifying 1, Qualifying 2 and Qualifying 3), with Merhi, Stroll and Boya splitting driving duties across the sessions in the PRO class.

The Canadian F1 star revealed lofty ambitions ahead of qualifying in the South of France, stating his belief that he and his Comtoyou Racing squad could even compete for the win, something his Aston Martin F1 team have been far from doing so far after a disastrous start to the 2026 campaign.

But after the 27-year-old’s qualifying stint, the *No.18 Aston Martin sat down in P19, with the trio only able to improve up to P15, where they will start Saturday’s six-hour event from.

Though four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen will not be competing at Paul Ricard or at the Nurburgring for the NLS3 race this weekend, his Verstappen Racing team qualified P8 thanks to Dani Juncadella, Chris Lulham and Jules Gounon in the **No.3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi was also in play on Saturday, with his Team WRT qualifying in P11 after taking to the track in a BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

See the top 20 combined qualifying classification below.

READ MORE: McLaren announce official signing of Gianpiero Lambiase

GT World Challenge Europe Qualifying Results: Paul Ricard 2026

Paul Ricard Qualifying Results
Position Entry Car Time/Status
1 No.48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO 1:53.622
2 No.58 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO +0.054
3 No.7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO +0.064
4 No.59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO +0.068
5 No.80 Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO +0.102
6 No.17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO +0.114
7 No.111 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO +0.182
8 **No.3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO +0.206
9 No.51 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO +0.211
10 No.32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO +0.326
11 No.46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO +0.395
12 No.71 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO +0.396
13 No.21 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO +0.545
14 No.50 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO +0.569
15 *No.18 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO +0.583
16 No.555 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO +0.592
17 No.99 Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II +0.597
18 No.998 BMW M4 GT3 EVO +0.621
19 No.10 Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO +0.676
20 No.65 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO +0.716

How to watch Stroll’s GT3 race

You can watch Stroll’s GT racing exploits right here on GPFans, with the below stream set to go live at around 17:30 (CEST) 16:30 (BST) on Saturday, April 11 for the main event.

Alternatively, you can catch all the action on the GTWorld YouTube channel or on the GT World Challenge website.

READ MORE: FIA reveals deadline for F1 2026 regulation ‘tweaks’

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

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F1 champion Lando Norris spotted with model after split with ex-girlfriend

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2025 F1 world champion Lando Norris has been spotted at a football match this week, with his ex-girlfriend Magui Corceiro.

Portuguese actress and fashion model Corceiro had been Norris’ partner since May 2023, regularly appearing at race weekends and celebrating his 2025 world championship victory at the Abu Dhabi GP last December.

But, following that championship victory, it was reported in early 2026 that the couple had separated, although those rumours were never confirmed.

Now, Norris has been spotted with Corceiro at a football match in Corceiro’s home country of Portugal.

The pair were spotted in the crowd at Sporting CP’s Champions League last-16 first leg tie against Arsenal at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on Tuesday night.

Corceiro posted the stadium on her Instagram story, with a picture of the two teams lining up for the Champions League anthem, while the pair were also pictured together.

Magui Corceiro's Instagram story from Tuesday night
Magui Corceiro’s Instagram story from Tuesday night

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton reveals why he didn’t attend Ferrari meetings

Who is Magui Corceiro?

The glare of the publicity focused on Corceiro has ramped up significantly during the past 12 months.

Since the age of 17, she has starred in Portuguese television dramas and even their own version of Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing with the Stars) during the 2020 series.

As a model, she has featured on the cover of Vogue Portugal and has worked with high-profile brands such as Intimissimi, Alo Yoga and Kerastase.

Corceiro also co-founded the eco-conscious swimwear brand Missu, and was named by Forbes as the most influential person on Instagram in Portugal.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton answers F1 fan prayers as Kim Kardashian makes Ferrari debut

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