Max Verstappen Dubbed a “Racing Machine” After Dual Wins
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen further cemented his reputation as one of Formula 1’s biggest talents with a memorable weekend of double victories. Dubbed a “race machine” by team principal Christian Horner, Verstappen demonstrated his versatility and dedication by winning the Imola Grand Prix and the virtual Nürburgring Enduro race on iRacing.
Even with a busy schedule that includes driving, PR commitments, and engineering, Verstappen doesn’t let that stop him from competing in the virtual arena. After taking pole position in Italy on Saturday, he raced in the simulator for three hours in the evening and another two hours on Sunday morning. These efforts resulted in victory for his simulation team, Team Redline, in the BMW GT3 category.
Horner, impressed by his driver’s dedication, said he was not worried about Verstappen taking the simulation so seriously during the Grand Prix weekend. “It’s basically a race car,” Horner said. “He is often seen testing different settings at night. He won two races today: one in a BMW M3 and one in a Formula 1 car.”
The Imola race was a real test for Verstappen, who faced strong pressure from Lando Norris in the closing stages. After a strong start on the medium tyres, Verstappen tried to maintain the temperature of the hard tyres in the second half of the race. “In the first round of media, I felt like everything was under control,” Horner said. “But once we switched to hard tyres, our temperature started to drop, and our performance dropped.”
To make matters worse, Verstappen had already been cautioned three times for exceeding the track limit, which meant he could do no more wrong. However, he kept his cool and managed to keep Norris out of DRS range to secure the win.
Meanwhile, his teammate Sergio Perez was not successful either. Perez was 11th on the grid and eighth, highlighting the difference in performance between the two Red Bull drivers.
Verstappen’s victory was the result of a collective effort by the team, which worked hard to fine-tune the car’s balance after a difficult start to practice on Friday. Horner emphasised the importance of the support of the factory team and the simulators as keys to restoring the car’s performance.
This weekend not only highlighted Verstappen’s racing skills but also his incredible adaptability, winning across a variety of racing platforms. Its tireless commitment to motorsport, both in the real and virtual worlds, cements its status as a “racing machine” and makes it a dominant force in the sport.
