Max Verstappen has responded to those who have criticized his decision to participate in a virtual sim racing event this weekend, which coincides with the Formula 1 race at Imola.
On the circuit, it seems that Red Bull's competitors are narrowing the gap, with Lando Norris securing a victory in Miami in the significantly improved McLaren, and Ferrari now revealing their own drastically modified car at Imola.
"Don't trust the appearance," remarked Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with a grin on Thursday. "What you see doesn't always translate directly into laptime."
After the Miami race, Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, headed into Red Bull's simulator, declaring at Imola: "I think we realized we had chosen some wrong settings, which had a huge impact on our speed in the race."
When queried about whether the improved performance of Ferrari and McLaren makes the 2024 season more thrilling, Verstappen simply shrugged off the suggestion.
"It's never boring for me," the Dutch driver stated firmly. "I don't need another team or another driver to have a challenge. It's always a challenge for me."
However, some argue that it's overly ambitious for the three-time world champion to divide his attention between his Formula 1 commitments at Imola and his high-tech simulator setup in his motorhome.
Verstappen has committed to participating with Team Redline in the online 24-hour Nurburgring race this weekend in the realm of virtual racing.
When questioned whether he has taken on too much, he confidently replied, "I do this often."
Earlier in 2024, during the Saudi Arabian GP weekend, Verstappen was engaged in online racing until the early morning hours.
Verstappen downplayed the issue, explaining, "I was trying to stay in the European time zone a bit, going to bed at four in the morning and getting up late."
This weekend, he will certainly be in the actual European timezone, which could make late-night simulator sessions seem like a significant distraction.
"It depends a bit on how it works out," Verstappen commented when asked if he will definitely participate in the virtual race.
"I don't have a lot of time on Saturday night and during the day it is of course difficult. But I will go to bed on time, because I have to start (the grand prix) on Sunday with enough rest."
He also refuted any suggestions that it might be deemed unprofessional to not fully concentrate on F1 this weekend.
"I think I'm professional enough to see what is and is not possible," the champion insisted. "And you can't decide what people want to do on a Saturday night, can you? Others might go out for dinner or whatever. It's my free time."
Regarding the criticism, Verstappen stated, "I don't care. With so many years of experience, I know what to do."
