Verstappen declines to race in F1 Virtual Grand Prix Series

Max Verstappen won't be on the grid of tomorrow's virtual Bahrain Grand Prix, the inaugural round of F1's new Esports Virtual Grand Prix series.

Forced into inactivity because of the global coronavirus crisis, Formula 1 has whipped up its own sim racing series which will kick off on Sunday with a virtual Bahrain Grand Prix.

Only a handful of drivers have been confirmed for the event, but F1's front runners won't be entering of their usual drivers. Even avid sim racer Max Verstappen will sidestep the new series, because he isn't acquainted with its game platform, Codemasters F1 2019.

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"I never play that game," Verstappen told Ziggo TV. "It will take days to understand the game just a little bit better. And I don't want to get into it right now.

"Also because I'm very busy with the other racing games. So switching between all those games just doesn't work for me.

"And on top of that I always race to win. I'm not going to drive around somewhere at the back. Then I'd rather not participate at all."

While he'll shy away from tomorrow's race, Verstappen will take part in Saturday's second round of 'The Race's All-Star Esport battle' which runs on the rFactor2 game.

During his down time, the 22-year-old Dutchman spends a considerable amount of time racing online as part of Team Redline's line-up, and the sim action keeps him "sharp and focused".

"You drive other cars in these online races, of course," he added.

"So it is different to our normal racing activities. But at least it doesn't hurt, it keeps you sharp and focused. And it is really nice to be able to race with so many other drivers out there.

"You just have to drive a lot to be competitive in sim racing. Practicing is really important. And you have to know a little bit about set-ups and things like that.

"My team-mate Rudy van Buren is very good at that, so that helps as well."

In Sunday's virtual Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull will field British Olympic gold medalist and part-time racer Sir Chris Hoy and Austrian Philipp Eng.

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