Max Verstappen defends himself. © ANSA / OLIVIER MATTHYS

Verstappen to his critics: “Turn down the volume”

Max Verstappen has no understanding for the debate surrounding his forays into the world of sim racing. The three-time Formula 1 world champion from Red Bull also firmly rejected the suggestion by the struggling racing team that he should be banned from virtual motorsports.

July 26, 2024

From: dpa

"There are no other sim races coming up anyway, so nobody needs to worry," said Verstappen before the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps. "I have no ban. I don't have to tell anyone what to do in their free time or on the weekend."

Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko had previously spoken out in his column for the specialist portal speedweek about Verstappen's participation in online races. Most recently in Hungary, the Dutchman only finished fifth in the Grand Prix that followed after a night session in the simulator. "Max Verstappen was rather thin-skinned this weekend, and of course it didn't take long for criticism to arise - no wonder, since he played sim racing half the night long," wrote Marko.

Up until three in the morning?

However, he must also point out: "In Imola, after a sim racing session, he didn't go to bed until three in the morning - and then won the Grand Prix. Max has a different sleep pattern and he had his seven hours of sleep," explained Marko. It was agreed that he would no longer drive simulations so late in the future.

Also often on the road in a virtual racing car: Max Verstappen © ANSA / Tamas Kovacs

Verstappen, in turn, pointed out that it was nothing new for him to "race until three in the morning"; he has been doing it since 2015. After all, it was "something very important" in his life. "If you don't win the race, people always put it off: he stays up until three in the morning or he's a kilo overweight," said Verstappen, adding: "I've won three world championships. I know pretty well what I can and can't do."

Verstappen, who is facing a grid penalty in Belgium for using a new engine in violation of the rules, also addressed the critics who had complained about his constant nagging over the pit radio during the race in Hungary. "People who don't like my language shouldn't listen, they should turn the volume down. I'm very success-oriented, I always want to optimize everything," said Verstappen, who has failed to win three times in a row this season, but has won the last three races in Belgium.

“It is important to be able to be critical.” Max Verstappen

At Red Bull, we are always "very open, very critical of each other, that has worked very well for us," Verstappen continued. "That is our approach. It is important to be able to be critical, because in the world we live in today, many people can no longer take criticism as well as they used to. It never ends."