Nico Rosberg believes "the whole world will be watching" Max Verstappen take on GT cars at the Nurburgring Nordschleife this weekend.
The 2016 F1 champion shared his admiration for the Dutchman's commitment to racing on a recent episode of the Sky Sports F1 podcast, where he featured alongside Simon Lazenby and David Croft, saying it is "incredible" from the 27-year-old.
Verstappen must obtain a permit to race at the famed circuit, having unofficially driven there under the alias Franz Hermann previously.
The four-time F1 drivers' champion will have to, however, retire his pseudonym as he can only race under his own name.
Competing in the Endurance Series, he needs to pass an exam on Friday to secure his Category B permit from the German Motorsport Federation, allowing him to compete in a Porsche Cayman.
"What are the questions on this exam? 'What's your name?' 'Max Verstappen'. 'Oh, congratulations, you've got a permit'," Croft joked.
However, the Red Bull driver must still comply with the outlined steps, even if he may afford himself some leniency.
If he gets results in two races, he will be given his Category A permit, which will let him race in the Ferrari 296 GT3, which he used previously.
However, the panel can decide after one race that he is good enough, in which case he will be able to race the Ferrari on Sunday.
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High praise from Rosberg
When discussing Verstappen's new pursuit, Rosberg shared that he would not have the capacity to race elsewhere if competing in 24 grands prix per year.
"No, I've never done it, and I don't have a permit," Rosberg told Lazenby and Croft. "Nevertheless, I find it so awesome that he's doing this; it's incredible.
"Like, all of us other drivers, with 24 races, you're just maxed out, and all you can think of is doing some home time.
"Home time with a bit of training routine, see the kids... and he goes off to a classroom to get a license to then drive in the B class on the Saturday, and then hopefully make it to the A class by the Sunday.
"Unbelievable. That's so cool. The whole world will be watching this. Like, even I'll be tuning in on Sunday to see how he's going, because there's been so much talk about his lap record from five months ago...
"Of course he can do the lap record," the former Williams and Mercedes driver exclaimed. "He's the most talented race car driver in the whole world, and it doesn't matter what car he gets into, he will drive faster than anybody else in the world. So of course, he's gonna do incredibly well."
Croft later provided more information as to the kind of questions Verstappen will face in his exam.
"I've just looked up: What do you need to get a permit at the Nordschleife? And what's come up is an example of all about yellow flags and how much speed you can or can't have going through yellow flag zones - and it's a code 60 zone or a code 120 zone," he added.
"It's actually quite confusing, to be fair. I mean, for me, not for Max, obviously."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the Italian Grand Prix! Max Verstappen's dominant win is a lead discussion, as is whether McLaren has set a precedent with its controversial team orders.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
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