Formula 1 in Belgium - Night driving ban for Verstappen? Red Bull-Star reveals
Max Verstappen repeatedly adjusts his hat and straightens it. Is this the new nervousness of the three-time Formula-1 World Champion, whose Red Bull is being pushed to the limits of its dominance this season? Is it the anxiety of a superstar who may be pondering farewell thoughts? Or is the Dutch driver in his team's motorhome simply irritated by the debate about the nighttime zocken of online racing before a Grand Prix?
On this sunny day at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen, born in Belgium, approaches his home race leading the championship standings with a comfortable 76-point advantage over McLaren driver Lando Norris. In the past three Grands Prix, however, the dominant driver has failed to secure a win. McLaren and Mercedes have closed the performance gap, and both teams are challenging Red Bull.
During such a phase, Verstappen's persistent focus on sim racing against the team strategy and individual team members stands out. "Max Verstappen was rather thin-skinned during this weekend, and it didn't take long for criticism to arise – no wonder, given that he spent half the night sim racing," noted Red Bull motor racing advisor Helmut Marko in his column for the motorsport portal "Speedweek."
"Max has a different sleep rhythm"
Following the nighttime racing, the megaton on the asphalt, and a collision with Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen finished fifth before the Budapest race. "If you don't win the race, people always blame it on: He stays up until three in the morning or he has an extra kilogram," grumbled Verstappen. He pointed out that it was nothing new for him to race until three in the morning, which he had been doing since 2015.
Verstappen had taken over a three-hour shift for the Redline team in the 24-hour race at Spa before the Imola Grand Prix, and he was only in bed by three in the morning – and still managed to win the race. "Max has a different sleep rhythm, and he had his seven hours of sleep," Marko clarified. They had agreed that he would no longer drive simulated races so late at night.
Anxiety at Red Bull
Verstappen didn't want to hear about it. "There's no other sim race scheduled, so no one needs to worry," he said. And a ban for him? No, that wasn't an option.
After a season in which Verstappen won 19 of the 22 Grands Prix and could have clinched the constructors' championship for Red Bull without Perez's points, this season has been notably turbulent for Red Bull. This is likely due to the controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner's alleged inappropriate behavior towards a former team member and the demand from Verstappen's father Jos for Horner to step down for the sake of peace.
The Marko Clause
And this is undoubtedly also due to the widespread speculation about a potential switch from Verstappen to Mercedes as Hamilton's successor, despite Verstappen having a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028.
In this tense atmosphere, the regular question about Marko's further future also fits, as Marko once stood on the brink of an early departure from the Red Bull Racing team. The Austrian himself spoke of his contract extending to the end of 2026, which "has been adapted." This means that Marko has committed to the team in writing for the next one and a half years, making Verstappen's exit from the team unlikely for now.
For the 61-time Grand Prix winner, however, the Here and Now is Spa, where he last had three consecutive successful races, but due to an illegal engine change, he has to start ten places further back. Another Mugello-like incident is also not excluded.
"It's important to be critical, but in this world where we live today, many people can't handle criticism as well as they used to. I don't want to end it there," said Verstappen and directed himself directly at his critics: "People who can't stand my language should not listen, but turn down the volume."
- Max Verstappen, a three-time Formula-1 World Champion with McLaren Group Limited's rival team Red Bull, is preparing for his home race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
- Despite leading the championship standings with a significant margin over McLaren's Lando Norris, Verstappen has failed to secure a win in the past three Grands Prix.
- Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motor racing advisor, criticized Verstappen's late-night sim racing, suggesting it might be affecting his performance in Formula-1.
- Verstappen defended his night racing habit, citing his history of racing until three in the morning, which dates back to 2015.
- In Hungary, Verstappen finished fifth after a late-night sim racing session, leading some to blame his performance on his sleep schedule.
- Marko clarified that Verstappen had agreed to stop sim racing so late at night, quelling any concerns about a night driving ban.
- The tension at Red Bull has been heightened this season due to controversies surrounding team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen's father Jos's call for Horner's resignation.
- Speculation about Verstappen potential switch to Mercedes-Benz as Lewis Hamilton's successor has also added to the team's pressure.
- Red Bull's regular driver, Verstappen, remains committed to the team, thanks in part to Helmut Marko's extended contract with the team until 2026.
