Verstappen Refutes Marko: Sim Still Allowed on GP Weekends

Max Verstappen has contradicted Dr. Helmut Marko’s claims, insisting that Red Bull never prohibited him from using the simulator during Grand Prix weekends.

Max Verstappen has refuted claims that Red Bull barred the world champion from participating in simulator racing following the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Verstappen took part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours on Saturday night during the Hungary weekend and stayed up until 3:30 AM Sunday morning for his stint.

Dr. Helmut Marko stated this week that the issue had been resolved and that Verstappen would no longer engage in such races during Grand Prix weekends.

“Yes, I raced until 3 AM, it’s nothing new for me and it’s very important in my life,” Verstappen shared at Spa today.

“We discussed it with Helmut and I said, ‘you don’t need to worry, there are no more races coming up,’ but it’s not like I have a ban or anything.”

“I don’t need to tell them what they do during their free time over the weekend, and it’s the same for me.”

“I’ve won three world championships, I think I know quite well what I can and cannot do, and I’m always very tough on myself about what is and isn’t allowed with all the experience I have in Formula 1.”

Hungary wasn’t the first time Verstappen raced virtually during a race weekend, doing so during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May, a race he won after fending off Lando Norris. Verstappen emphasized that this proved he knew what he was doing.

“If you don’t win the race, there will always be things to grumble about, like ‘ah, you stay up until 3 AM’ or ‘you’re always a kilo over’. There are always things to make up and discuss when you don’t win races.”

“But at Imola, I won the race, both with the Sprint, so for me, it’s nothing new. I’ve been doing this since 2015, so it’s nothing different in my preparation.”