Max Verstappen was criticized by commentators during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend for his late-night virtual racing schedule. The 2024 season began with Verstappen as one of the most dominant drivers in the sport. However, his involvement in sim racing and his grumpy demeanor at the Hungarian GP led to public backlash and suggestions that he should avoid sim races during race weekends.
Verstappen is widely regarded as one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history. He holds numerous records that were once considered unbeatable. Despite his success, commentators called him out for his inconsistent sleep patterns, especially after attending sim races.
Red Bull, Verstappen’s team, did not take kindly to the public criticism. They dismissed any claims about Verstappen’s nature but did suggest that he should avoid racing past midnight.
Helmut Marko, a key figure at Red Bull, revealed that he and Verstappen had reached an agreement. Verstappen agreed not to participate in sim races past midnight during race weekends to avoid further criticism. However, Marko later clarified that it was merely a strong recommendation and not a strict rule.
Although Verstappen has been the driver with the most wins this season, his reign seems to be coming to an end due to the resurgence of Red Bull’s rivals. The team’s recent struggles have made Verstappen realize that his dominance may be waning.
Verstappen acknowledged that he performed well in Belgium, but he admitted that his days of complete dominance are behind him. He believes that the RB20 car is no longer the benchmark and cannot easily overtake other cars like it used to.
Despite the challenges, Verstappen still holds a comfortable 78-point lead in the driver’s championship. As the season heads into the summer break, he can relax knowing that he has a significant points advantage.
