sport news Have YOU beaten F1 world champion Max Verstappen? The Dutchman reveals he has ... trends now
Max Verstappen is best-known as Red Bull's all-conquering Formula 1 world champion, but that's not the only area of racing he dominates.
The Dutch driver was unstoppable last year and is already crushing his competition this season.
But when Verstappen isn't strapped into a 1000 BHP rocket ship, he's at home defeating all comers on the virtual race track in his state-of-the-art simulator rig that no one else is allowed to touch.
Sim racing is more popular than ever, with players around the world investing in wheels, pedals, and cockpits to get the most realistic driving experience possible.
Over the last 20 years, gaming technology has advanced at a rapid rate, with virtual racing becoming one of the most life-like gaming experiences available.
Max Verstappen racing at the global final of Player 00 sim racing competition hosted at the Heineken Experience on December 6, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Verstappen's state-of-the-art sim racing setup is thought to cost upwards of $35,000
Verstappen is such a racing junkie that he even takes a racing rig with him to some Formula 1 tracks.
'I'm building a new motorhome for travelling through Europe to the F1 races and I said I will install one there because I can just keep on driving when I'm back in the evening,' he said in an interview with Autosport last year.
'Because I like it, it's my hobby in a way, and it just keeps you sharp as well.' There were even rumours, which Verstappen later denied, that he'd had a sim racing rig put into his $15 million private jet.
As a lifelong racing fan, Verstappen has naturally invested in multiple at-home rigs that would make even the most dedicated of gamers envious.
Verstappen's state-of-the-art sim racing setup - which is thought to cost upwards of $35,000 - features a custom-made steering wheel that is almost 10 times more powerful than the models most players use.
Verstappen uses four massive curved monitors to create his virtual cockpit & display key race information. He's also got bass shakers under the seat and even immersive wind machines complete his pricy setup.
Verstappen is regularly seen on his own account and his second one (named after his father Jos) putting in lap after lap on the platform iRacing at a pace that is competitive with the best sim racers in the world.
He was even racing at 4am ahead of the Saudi Arabian
