Max Verstappen takes first win of 2024 and discusses Lewis Hamilton rivalry – F1 news roundup.

Max Verstappen started 2024 with a victory, but this time it was not on real Formula 1 tracks. The three-time world champion scored his first victory of the year at iRacing’s 24 Hours of Daytona, competing in the GTD class. He was behind the wheel of the Team Redline GT3 car and raced alongside Gianni Vecchio and Ole Steinbraten on the virtual Daytona circuit as one of many three-man teams over a full 24-hour period.

In the GTD class, fielding the slowest cars behind the faster GTP and LMP2 prototypes, Verstappen and his teammates had to manage a race where they had to be overtaken almost constantly. But the three-time F1 World Champion and his teammates still took victory in their 12-car category.

While celebrating this virtual victory, Max Verstappen spoke about his relationship with long-term rival Lewis Hamilton. In an interview, Verstappen emphasized that he and Hamilton are “just normal guys” when they are in a private setting. This is an interesting revelation that illuminates the dynamic between the two pilots, despite the intense rivalry they share on the tracks.

Verstappen’s virtual victory at the iRacing 24 Hours of Daytona certainly adds a new element to the narrative of the 2024 season and shows that the Red Bull driver is sharp not only on real tracks, but also in simulations.

But it’s not just Verstappen who makes the headlines. Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan shared his views on the rivalry between Verstappen, Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Jordan argues that Verstappen may have difficulty keeping up with the pace due to the ages of Hamilton and Alonso. He emphasizes that Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris are the only names who can resist the triple champion.

Additionally, David Coulthard has floated the idea of introducing a second tire supplier into F1. Coulthard claimed that a second supplier would bring a natural “competitive change” to some tracks, providing a more exciting spectacle.

As Verstappen chases victory, F1 news covers a variety of topics, from rivalry with Hamilton to tire wars. Certainly, 2024 looks set to be an exciting year in the world of Formula 1 on both real and virtual tracks.