Max Verstappen Considers Summer Break After FIA Rating Reveal

Max Verstappen has received the FIA’s highest driver rating, known as platinum, following a recent application. He now joins a select group of just six current Formula 1 drivers to earn this status.

The list includes Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg, Lance Stroll, and Franco Colapinto. The platinum rating is awarded by motorsport’s governing body to drivers who have shown top-tier experience and success at elite levels.

Verstappen, just 26 years old and already a four-time F1 champion, is among those leading names. In Formula 1, applying for a driver rating usually has a special purpose.

It often means a driver is interested in competing in other racing series, such as endurance sports car events. Notable recent examples include Alonso and Hulkenberg, both needing platinum status for races in the World Endurance Championship.

Norris and Stroll gained their ratings for the 24 Hours of Daytona, while Colapinto used his for Le Mans and ELMS entries. There are now hints that Verstappen could take part in the KW 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen at the Nürburgring on August 16.

This endurance race is part of the Nürburgring Langstrecken Serie and falls right in the middle of Formula 1’s summer break. Such a move doesn’t guarantee Verstappen will race, but securing the rating in advance prevents any last-minute paperwork if he decides to get behind the wheel.

When asked about his FIA rating, Verstappen explained, “I applied because I have to do it at some point, so it’s better I get it out of the way.” He described the process as easy, saying it involved filling out a form, paying a fee, and then waiting about a week for an answer.

Verstappen joked that he had hoped for a bronze or silver instead, smiling as he commented on the process. With the platinum tier and a clear route to sports car racing, Verstappen now has options during Formula 1’s busy calendar.

The Red Bull driver continues to be at the center of attention in the paddock, where big names like Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris are also contenders thanks to their own FIA statuses. So far in 2025, the four-time F1 champion has scored 136 points for Red Bull and sits behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the standings.

Each year, off-track decisions like this can shape a driver’s schedule, especially during the F1 summer break when racing slows. Whether Verstappen appears at the Nürburgring in August or not, his FIA platinum license makes him eligible for top-level sports car races.

Fans and teams now await his next move as the current Formula 1 season continues to unfold. For more on Verstappen’s recent performances, see his four-time F1 champion status.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.