Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion, is known for his love of virtual racing. In the lead-up to the Austrian Grand Prix, he was, as expected, found behind his racing simulator. However, his recent race didn’t go as smoothly as planned. Contrary to popular belief, sim racing isn’t without its risks – Verstappen seems to have genuinely hurt himself.
After a victorious weekend in the RB20 at the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen chose to explore the virtual asphalt on Wednesday. Sim racing is perhaps Verstappen’s greatest passion, second only to Formula 1. During the Imola Grand Prix, he managed to combine both. While he spent the day completing sessions with Red Bull, he chose to participate in the virtual 24 Hours of Nürburgring in the evening. However, not everyone thought this was a good idea.
On Wednesday, Verstappen proved that sim racing also carries its fair share of risks. The steering wheel of his simulator jerked violently to the side, much like it could in a real race, seemingly causing the Dutchman to injure his elbow. His face contorted in pain as he clutched his right arm. Fortunately, the damage appears to be minimal – sim racing won’t be causing Verstappen any injuries for the time being. On social media, fans found humor in the situation. “If he loses in Austria now, at least he has an excuse,” joked one user.
Find out everything about the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix here.
