Max Verstappen Crashes from the Lead in Virtual 24 Hours of Daytona, Finishes P4

Max Verstappen faced a setback during the virtual 24 Hours of Daytona, crashing from the lead after making contact with lapped traffic in challenging wet conditions. The incident cost Verstappen and his Team Redline car several laps, ultimately leading to a P4 finish despite their strong early performance.

Verstappen’s Lead Ends in a Costly Crash

The reigning Formula 1 World Champion and his teammates, Chris Lulham and Diogo Pinto, were leading the race with six-and-a-half hours remaining. However, Verstappen’s attempt to overtake a slower GTD-class car at the International Horseshoe resulted in contact, causing him to aquaplane and slide into the tire barrier. He managed to reverse out and return to the pits, but the damage was done—losing three laps to the new leaders.

Strong Performance Before the Incident

Starting from third in the top GTP class, Team Redline had established a solid position early in the race. Lulham took the lead on the first lap, engaging in an intense battle with Williams Esports, while Verstappen built a lead overnight. However, two separate 40-second penalties for unsafe pit lane entries frustrated the Red Bull driver, impacting their overall race strategy.

Despite these setbacks, the team had regained the lead before Verstappen’s crash. Unfortunately, the damage resulted in a significant loss, putting them eight laps behind at one point.

Ferrari Esports Secures Victory

While Team Redline fought hard, it was Ferrari’s Esports team that ultimately claimed victory in the GTP class with their #50 car. Verstappen and his teammates fought back to finish in P4, recovering one lap but still ending seven laps down from the leader.

There was a silver lining for Verstappen’s sim racing group, as their #171 GTD-class car managed to clinch a win in its category, bringing some consolation to Team Redline.

Verstappen Reflects on Sim Racing vs. Real Racing

During a mid-race Q&A session, Verstappen compared sim racing to real-life racing, highlighting the differences and similarities.

“I think the biggest difference is, of course, the G-forces,” Verstappen explained. “In real life, you feel everything—acceleration, braking, cornering—but sim racing is different, especially if you’re using a static rig.”

He added that despite these differences, the strategic elements, including tire choices and setup work, remain very similar to real-world racing.

Looking Ahead to the Real 24 Hours of Daytona

The virtual race served as a prelude to the real 24 Hours of Daytona, set to take place next weekend. Former Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen is set to compete in his new role as a factory driver for BMW, adding further anticipation to the upcoming endurance classic.

Verstappen’s virtual racing endeavors continue to showcase his commitment to racing beyond Formula 1, proving his passion for motorsport in all its forms.