After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has once again taken aim at Max Verstappen, subtly suggesting that the Dutch driver’s off-track activities may have contributed to his fifth-place finish.
Verstappen recently competed in the 24 Hours of Spa on the popular sim-racing game iRacing, alongside his regular duties with Red Bull at the Hungaroring. Notably, he stayed up until 3 am to complete his stint. This isn’t the first time Verstappen has balanced a Grand Prix event with online racing; earlier this season, he won a virtual race with Team Redline before claiming victory in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
@motorsport_fans_europe he just pitted, and is doing another 1H stint. This man is unbelievable. Start of the Hungarian GP : 15:00 #maxverstappen #24hofspa #iracing #sidequest #maxverstappensidequest #teamredline #racing #f1 #formula1 #hungarian #hungariangp #netherlands #fyp #f1fyp
However, his recent sim-racing endeavors have garnered attention following a disappointing result in Budapest. Beyond finishing fifth and his late collision with Hamilton’s Mercedes, Verstappen’s race was marked by heated and aggressive exchanges with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, over team radio.
Hamilton didn’t hold back when discussing Verstappen’s performance and his extracurricular activities. “Max is a great driver, but sometimes you have to question the priorities,” Hamilton said. “Staying up until the early hours to race online when you have a Grand Prix the next day doesn’t seem like the best preparation. Racing at this level requires full focus and dedication.”
Hamilton’s comments reflect a broader sentiment that Verstappen’s late-night sim-racing might be affecting his ability to deliver on the track for Red Bull. The British driver added, “We’ve all got our hobbies, but you have to manage your time and energy. It’s all about balance, especially when you’re competing at the top level.”
Verstappen, a three-time drivers’ champion, has enjoyed sim racing for some time, but his latest exploits have raised questions about his focus and preparation. With the Formula 1 season in full swing, it remains to be seen how these activities will impact his performance in future races.
