Red Bull reach agreement with Verstappen over sim racing activities

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed the Milton Keynes-based squad has reached an agreement with Max Verstappen regarding his sim racing activities.

Verstappen was criticised by some for taking part in a sim race on Saturday night ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, staying up until 3am.

A difficult race followed for Verstappen during which he publicly criticised the team's strategy over team radio before colliding with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

His frustrations were clear after the race, telling those who criticised his in-race irritations to “fuck off”.

Marko pointed out that Verstappen also stayed up late at Imola to sim race earlier this year before winning the grand prix - however he confirmed that the Dutchman will no longer take part in late sim racing sessions.

“Max Verstappen was rather thin-skinned this weekend, and of course it didn't take long for criticism to arise - no wonder, given that he spends half the night playing sim racing,” Marko wrote in his column for Speedweek.

I have to say this: In Imola, he didn't go to bed until three o'clock in the morning after a sim racing session - and then won the Grand Prix. 

“Max has a different sleep rhythm and he had his seven hours of sleep. His late-night sim race on the Hungarian weekend only came about because a driver in his team cancelled. 

“Nevertheless, we have agreed that he will no longer run sim races this late in future.”

Marko weighs in on Verstappen-Hamilton

Verstappen's contact with Hamilton came as they battled for the final spot on the podium.

However, the collision demoted the three-time world champion to fifth behind Charles Leclerc, with the stewards opting to take no further action after investigating the matter.

Marko suggested both drivers had a role to play in the clash.

“One thing led to another, emotions ran high, with comments that were inappropriate, to put it politely, from the race engineer and also from Max,” Marko added.

“And then there was that final action, when Hamilton and Verstappen were lapping a Williams and Max spotted a gap, immediately went into that hole and then there was a collision.

“I spoke to Verstappen about this: Of course, the wheels of his car locked when braking, but he would have made it through the corner, so there was no question of him losing control of his car. Max was ahead, but Hamilton turned in, and everyone could see what happened.

“So we ended up in fifth place, although we must not forget that in terms of pure speed we were just behind McLaren.”