Max Verstappen has stated that he will keep participating in sim races during grand prix weekends, brushing off claims that his gaming hobby has any negative impact on his Formula 1 performance.
Following a fifth-place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Verstappen showed visible frustration with his strategy and had a close encounter with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, the three-time world champion faced criticism from fans. They were upset that he participated in the iRacing Spa 24 Hours until 3 am on Sunday morning. After discussions with Red Bull, team advisor Helmut Marko indicated that Verstappen had agreed to refrain from late-night sim racing on grand prix weekends in the future.
“Max has a different sleep schedule and he managed to get his seven hours of sleep,” Marko explained to Speedweek, a publication owned by Red Bull. “His late-night sim racing during the Hungarian weekend happened because of a last-minute change within his team. However, we’ve mutually agreed that he will not race in simulators this late going forward.”
Verstappen dismissed the notion that his late-night activities had any effect on him, asserting that he would continue to balance sim racing with his F1 responsibilities.
“We discussed it,” Verstappen remarked. “There isn’t another sim race scheduled anyway, so there’s no need for anyone to be concerned.”
“So no, I’m not under any restrictions. I also don’t feel the need to dictate how others spend their personal time outside of racing, and that applies to me as well. Racing until 3 am isn’t a new phenomenon for me, and it’s an important part of my life.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, collide
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Moreover, Verstappen highlighted that he triumphed in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola after a late-night sim racing session, expressing confusion over critics who sought to blame his non-podium finish in Hungary on his gaming habits.
“It’s always the case that when you don’t win, people will use excuses like: ‘He stayed up until 3 am’ or ‘he’s carrying extra weight,'” he noted. “There will always be reasons to criticize when there’s no victory.”
“For instance, in Imola, I won both races. I’ve been doing this since 2015, so for me, this is just part of my routine.”
“Having won three world championships, I believe I have a fair understanding of my capabilities and limits. I consistently hold myself accountable regarding what I can and cannot do, and with my extensive experience in Formula 1, I am quite aware of what’s feasible.”
Additional reporting by Erwin Jaeggi
