You would think Max Verstappen might want to slow down after his hectic, world title-winning, globetrotting season.
But fewer than 24 hours after collecting his Formula One drivers’ champion trophy in Rwanda, where he was serving his punishment for swearing at the Singapore Grand Prix in October by attending a motorsports grassroots development programme, the Dutchman sits down with Mail Sport in a convention centre in Madrid.
A few metres away, 18 racers from around the world are taking part in a virtual race around the Zandvoort racetrack, home of the Dutch Grand Prix, as part of a gaming festival.
Much has been documented about Verstappen’s own love for virtual racing — he has a simulator in his motorhome. In May, he used it to win two races in 24 hours — Formula One’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola for Red Bull, and the virtual Nurburgring 24 hours for Team Redline, alongside a team of four.
‘He is basically a racing machine so it is not unusual for him to be doing that,’ said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
Two months later, Verstappen was reportedly told to pull the plug on late-night gaming sessions during race weekends after he stuttered to a fifth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, though the Dutchman insisted there was nothing to worry about. So is it simply a hobby or part of his routine?
It is no secret that Formula One world champion Max Vertstappen is a big fan of e-sports
Verstappen attended a GAMERGY event in Madrid to see the Heineken Player 0.0 Global Final
‘Honestly, it keeps me sharp,’ Verstappen, 27, tells Mail Sport. ‘In my opinion, you’re doing the same thing as F1. Of course, hitting the wall doesn’t hurt but everything else in terms of overtaking, defending, pit stops, strategy and working on set-up — there are so many similarities with sim (virtual) racing. Naturally, I like to win in real life but also in the virtual world.’
There is an acceptance it will never stimulate the senses in the exact same way but besides that, Verstappen sees it as crucial to his routine. He was even racing at 4am back in March ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which he won, and there are plenty of tales on social media of people racing against him virtually.
It brings to mind stories of people playing chess online with Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool forward has admitted he is ‘addicted’ to the hobby and plays regularly on Chess.com.
For Verstappen, who has brought plenty of attention to the niche e-sport through his sim racing exploits, it offers an chance too to make motorsport more accessible. It says something that he is determined to make the journey from Kigali directly to this event.
‘If you look at the real racing world, it’s mainly dominated by a few countries,’ says Verstappen. ‘With a competition like this, it doesn’t matter where you’re from in the world. Anything is possible. That’s why it’s great to see all these countries represented. It gives you a chance to be competitive from wherever you are in the world.’
All the drivers in Madrid are from different countries and the majority of people at this video game and e-sports festival are young adults, so this is a great way for motorosport to connect with the next generation.
A day earlier, football legends Carles Puyol and Luis Figo played a match against two prominent Twitch streamers at the event, with half played virtually on EA Sports FC 25 and half on an actual football pitch.
Verstappen sees virtual racing as a means of discovering the next motorsport talent.
Verstappen pictured (second from right) posing for a photograph with the finalists in Madrid
‘That’s ultimately the target,’ he says. ‘That’s what we’re all working on together and I really hope that in the future something positive comes out of it.’
Such is his zeal for racing, Verstappen is keen to know about each of the drivers, with Slovenian Jernej Dovzan coming out on top.
For the Dutchman, a four-time world champion who has just brought down the curtain on his 10th season in Formula One, there is still the belief he has so much more to win, whether it is in person or behind a screen.
His tally of 63 race wins is still 42 behind Lewis Hamilton’s 105, and he needs three more world titles to equal Hamilton and Michael Schumacher on seven championships. But he is keen to stress that, more than anything, it is his love for the sport that keeps him motivated.
‘The enjoyment keeps me going,’ says Verstappen. ‘I truly enjoy what I’m doing. Of course, I’m happy with the races we are winning (at Red Bull) and the championships but at the end of the day, what needs to motivate you is that you can look in the mirror and tell yourself you are still giving it 100 per cent and that you’re enjoying what you’re doing.’
For as long as that love remains, the man who eats, sleeps and breathes racing will race whenever and wherever he can.
Max Verstappen was speaking at the Heineken Player 0.0 arena at the GAMERGY gaming festival.