Verstappen causes huge controversy in championship deciding sim race
Red Bull Contentpool
F1 News
- Cas van de Kleut
Max Verstappen participated in the IMSA Esports Global Championship on Sunday night, representing Team Redline. The team was locked in a fierce battle with Williams Esports to win the championship title. However, Controversy arose early in the race when Verstappen was involved in a first-corner collision with the Williams car, sparking debate about the incident.
Verstappen crashes with championship leader
Max Verstappen participated in the race as a wildcard entry, meaning he had nothing to lose. This mindset was evident in Turn 1, where the Dutchman attempted an aggressive move to overtake the Williams car and seize the lead. However, the four-time Formula 1 world champion lost control during the manoeuvre and collided with the Williams car.
The incident had significant implications for the championship, as the Williams team was leading the standings going into the race, with another Team Redline car in close pursuit. Verstappen’s actions may have a substantial impact on the championship outcome
@snakezf1_yt Thoughts on this move? #Max #Verstappen #MaxVerstappen #MV1 #MV33 #F1 #IMSA #IMSAEsports #iRacing #Daytona #GTP #GTD #Hypercar #GT3 #Simracing origineel geluid - SnakezF1
Race control noted Verstappen’s aggressive move and ultimately issued him a drive-through penalty. This setback caused the Formula 1 driver to drop down the order. Despite the early drama, Verstappen and his teammate, Gustavo Ariel, managed to recover somewhat, eventually finishing the race in 12th place.
No major consequences for the championship
In the end, Verstappen’s controversial move had little impact on the championship outcome. The Williams team finished the race in 10th place but still secured the championship title. Team Redline’s car managed a seventh-place finish, narrowly overtaking the BS+Competition team in the standings. With just a one-point margin, Verstappen's team claimed third place in the championship.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!