Max Verstappen has announced his dedication to supporting young sim racers in their journey from virtual racing to actual motorsport competition. The Red Bull driver revealed that one of his ambitions is to help a sim racer achieve success in professional racing.
Speaking about this plan to The Athletic, Verstappen emphasized the importance of financial backing and opportunity for emerging talent. He said,
“I’m just very happy that it’s all possible,”
highlighting that the goal is enabling sim racers to build a livelihood from racing. He added,
“That he can make his living off it. That is the goal, and that’s something that slowly we’re making ways in.”
Verstappen’s Personal Experience with Sim Racing and Its Competitive Nature
Currently third in the Formula 1 driver standings, Verstappen has long enjoyed sim racing, often participating in online sessions with members of Team Redline. He believes the level of competition in sim racing is at least as challenging as traditional karting. Addressing common misconceptions, he explained,
“Everyone always thinks that it’s just a game and it’s fun, easy-going,”
but stressed,
“But I would say the competition is just as hard, or even harder, to nail – to win – than in real life.”
Verstappen also reflected on his earlier sim racing experience, revealing that his time on simulators was limited due to balancing school and karting commitments. He said,
“I never really had time to spend a lot of time on the simulator because combining school (and) karting, it was not possible. From 2009 until like 2015, I did a bit but just for fun, to go on with my friends and have a good time.”
Establishing a Pathway for Sim Racers Through Verstappen.com Racing
Believing sim racing is a viable route into motorsport, Verstappen has developed a support system to nurture talent transitioning from virtual to physical racing. Launched in 2022 with Red Bull’s backing, the Verstappen.com Racing team competes in GT3 racing, rally, and sim racing, providing a platform for sim racers to gain real-world experience.
This initiative has already helped drivers like Chris Lulham to advance from sim racing to GT3 sprint and endurance racing. Lulham currently races alongside Thierry Vermeulen as part of this supportive framework. Verstappen highlighted the collaborative nature of this effort, saying,
“We go racing all together, partnering with professional support teams in challenging championships,”
and added,
“It is great that we now make it happen for a sim racer to take it up against established racing drivers. I am very excited for the year ahead!”
Success Stories Inspiring the Future of Sim Racing Talent
Lulham’s progression mirrors that of Jann Mardenborough, who began his career in sim racing by competing in the Gran Turismo video game series. After winning the GT Academy, a competition designed to identify sim racing talent, Mardenborough earned a professional racing contract with Nissan. He now competes in the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with HRT Ford Performance, exemplifying the real potential of sim racers to succeed on the track.
With Verstappen’s focused support and growing acceptance of sim racing as a legitimate motorsport pathway, the future could see more virtual drivers making a successful leap into professional racing, further blending digital competition with real-world racing careers.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Max Verstappen apologize?
A. Christian Horner mentioned that Max Verstappen said sorry to the Red Bull team. This apology was for his crash with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. The crash caused Verstappen to fall from 5th to 10th place because of a 10-second penalty.
Q. What is Max Verstappen’s baby gender?
A. On May 2, Verstappen, who is 27 years old, shared two pictures of his baby girl on Instagram. In the caption, he announced her name as Lily, saying, “Welcome to the world, sweet Lily.”
Q. Who did Max Verstappen lose respect for?
A. Max Verstappen expressed that he has “lost all respect” for George Russell following a stewards’ hearing in Qatar about a qualifying incident in Formula 1.
