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“No One Comes Close”: Max Verstappen Declares His Domination Against F1 Peers When It Comes to Gaming

Somin Bhattacharjee
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F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix; FP3 and Qualifying Day; Max Verstappen (1) of Netherlands and team Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the paddock

Aside from being one of F1’s greatest-ever drivers, Max Verstappen takes pride in the fact that he is one of the best in the virtual world as well. A dedicated sim racer, Verstappen has big plans to make it more mainstream, and he has led by example.

When not occupied with F1 duties, Verstappen spends hours away on his simulator, both streaming with his friends and also competing in prestigious events. Verstappen knows that he is good, and when asked in a conversation with Sport Bible in Las Vegas whether anyone else in F1 comes close to him in sim racing, he said no.

“I mean, I do drive a lot on the sim,” he said. “In terms of number of hours that I put in the sim, probably not,” Verstappen added, declaring his supremacy.

 

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The four-time world champion also has his own team, Verstappen.com racing, a venture he plans on using as a platform for up-and-coming sim-racing drivers who are looking to make it big in real-life motorsport. He’s also part of Team Redline, who take part in several virtual races worldwide.

Other F1 drivers also take part in sim racing events, and stream casually with their friends. But no one is as dedicated as Verstappen.

Verstappen’s plan of giving back to the community

The 27-year-old’s Verstappen.com will soon feature its own GT3 team, a huge step for those looking to make a mark in racing. Not many have thought this way before, but Verstappen truly believes that there is little separating sim-racers from real-life stars like him.

Per him, the only difference lies in the fact that F1 drivers are used to dealing with the physical aspect of the sport, dealing with G Forces and the extreme weather conditions.

Verstappen has mentioned that spending time on his simulator helps him stay sharp during F1 races. So, when he eventually decides to retire, it’s highly likely that he will dedicate more time to sim racing, both as a competitor and in a managerial capacity.

Post Edited By:Aishwary Gaonkar

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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