It’s no secret that Max Verstappen loves his sim racing. From virtual Grand Prix racing to the Virtual 24 hours of Spa, the two-time F1 World Champion is just as talented in the virtual world as he is on track. Now, Verstappen is aiming to help sim racers into the world of motorsport with his newest venture.
Verstappen wants to set up a GT3 team
According to Formule1.nl, Max Verstappen wants to help sim racers get into real racing by establishing his own GT3 team. By creating his own team, Verstappen will be able to cherrypick the best sim racers from around the globe to put behind the wheel of a real GT3 racing car.
This sounds like a crazy idea, but examples do exist of sim racers entering the real world of racing. James Baldwin and Jimmy Broadbent regularly swap between the sim wheel and the real thing. Cem Bolukbasi also traded in a virtual McLaren for a drive in Formula 3 back in 2021.
Arguably the most well-known example, though, is Jann Mardenborough. Mardenborough’s story from racing in his bedroom to competing on the track is about to be told in the upcoming Gran Turismo movie.
It’s definitely possible to make the transition from sim racing to the real thing, but why does Verstappen want to help?
The cost of racing
It’s a well-known fact that the journey to the pinnacle of motorsport is not a cheap one. Verstappen knows this, and that’s why he wants to give sim racers a helping hand. The only real entry method currently is karting, which is far too expensive for most even at a young age.
"It's about being able to create a stepping stone from sim racing to GT3," Verstappen told Formule1.nl. "So that you can not only end up in motorsport through karting, because that costs a lot of money at the moment."
There’s a vast amount of talent in sim racing, and it’s about time those who race in virtual events are given a chance at the real thing. Sure there are dangers involved, but as long as it’s managed carefully there shouldn’t be any major risks.
Who is better to coach emerging talent than a two-time F1 World Champion after all?