Max Verstappen Building Sim Racing Empire While Helping Develop F1 Feeder Series Tech
Behind the scenes, the Red Bull star is helping develop simulator software used by Formula 2 and Formula 3 teams — F1 feeder series — blending his technical expertise with a growing investment in sim racing infrastructure. 'Max also develops software for the simulators used by Formula 2 and Formula 3 teams,' said Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
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'He runs a sim racing team and now he wants to put one of his best drivers in a GT car,' Marko added. 'That's an active promotion of young talents.'
Marko highlighted the skyrocketing costs of traditional karting, sometimes exceeding a quarter of a million dollars per season. 'And what does the equipment for sim racing cost? Maybe $30,000 to $50,000 in total,' he said.
Max Verstappen during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix.Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Verstappen's long term vision made headlines last week after his stealth appearance at Nurburgring under the pseudonym 'Franz Hermann.' While the GT3-class test was never officially timed, rumors of a lap record quickly circulated — and now seem all but confirmed.
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'He told me that he beat a record by two seconds after just three laps,' said Marko. 'He knew every lap time, everything about the suspension. He was almost more into the details than he is with his Formula 1 car.'
Whether it's engineering high-end simulators or scouting the next generation through his own racing team, Verstappen is building something bigger than just his own legacy and he's doing it on his own terms.
Related: Fans Roast Max Verstappen After He Tried Hiding as 'Franz Hermann' During Ferrari Test at Nordschleife
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