Monday\u2019s fast-paced F1 news includes former F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen celebrating his 59th birthday in hospital as Max Verstappen confirms that he plans to enter the 2027 N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s fly through the day\u2019s main headlines at the speed of light\u2026<\/p>\n
Former F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen in hospital after back surgery<\/p>\n
Former F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen has posted an update from his hospital bed after recently undergoing back surgery in his native Germany.<\/p>\n
Frentzen, who competed in F1 for the likes of Williams and Jordan between 1994 and 2003, turned 59 on Monday.<\/p>\n
In a post to social media, he quipped: \u201cGot myself a brand new disc as a birthday present this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more: Former F1 driver issues update from hospital bed after surgery<\/a><\/p>\n Max Verstappen planning N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours return in 2027<\/p>\n Max Verstappen has vowed that he will \u201ctry\u201d to return to the N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours in 2027.<\/p>\n Yet he has acknowledged that a second appearance at the Nordschleife will \u201cdepend a bit on my schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n Verstappen\u2019s #3 crew was eventually classified 38th last weekend after the Mercedes developed a technical problem while leading.<\/p>\n Read more: Max Verstappen teases next step after N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours heartbreak<\/a><\/p>\n Maro Engel \u2018grinning in my helmet\u2019 during Max Verstappen battle<\/p>\n N\u00fcrburgring 24 Hours winner Maro Engel has revealed that he was \u201cgrinning in my helmet\u201d during his feisty battle with Max Verstappen at the Nordschleife.<\/p>\n Engel and Verstappen raced hard in the early hours of Sunday morning at the N\u00fcrburgring, with the former taking to the grass at one stage after contact between the pair at high speed.<\/p>\n Verstappen and Engel were previously engaged in a war of words after the Red Bull F1 driver\u2019s first appearance at the circuit last year.<\/p>\n Read more: Max Verstappen rival sets record straight after latest N\u00fcrburgring clash<\/a><\/p>\n Christian Horner officially free to step up F1 comeback plan<\/p>\n Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is officially free to intensify plans to return to F1 after his non-compete clause expired, PlanetF1.com understands.<\/p>\n It is believed that Horner was prevented from taking a new role in the paddock in the immediate aftermath of his Red Bull departure last year.<\/p>\n The clause is understood to have expired on May 8.<\/p>\n