Verstappen's Night Sim Racing Gets Curfew Limit

Red Bull enforces a midnight curfew on three-time world champion Max Verstappen’s simulator racing sessions.

Dr. Helmut Marko has decided against completely banning Max Verstappen from participating in nighttime simulation races, instead agreeing to a midnight curfew with the three-time world champion.

Verstappen faced criticism for his radio exchanges with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase during the Hungarian Grand Prix, after it emerged that the driver had stayed up until 3:30 AM participating in the iRacing 24 Hours of Spa.

Finishing fifth, Verstappen’s sour mood and coarse language were partly attributed to his nocturnal activities.

Red Bull’s sports advisor initially responded by banning Verstappen from engaging in simulation racing during Grand Prix weekends. However, the Dutchman retorted at Spa, stating it was “out of the question” to give it up!

So what’s the end of the story?

“His nighttime simulation race during the Hungarian weekend only happened because a team driver was absent.”

“Nevertheless, we agreed he wouldn’t drive in the simulator so late in the future, this is true!”

But with Verstappen making it clear that his free time was his own, Marko accepted a compromise, a sort of curfew for the Red Bull three-time world champion.

“We agreed that in the future, he wouldn’t drive well past midnight, even though he has a completely different lifestyle.”

“However, it’s still important to avoid things that are naturally criticized publicly.”

The curfew, however, is more a “very strong recommendation” than a rule, according to Marko.

It’s safe to say that Verstappen might well “not care,” as he likes to say!