Max Verstappen’s announcement before Imola shocks the fans: here’s where the Dutch Red Bull driver will race
Countdown almost over for Imola GP scheduled for next Sunday on the circuit named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari.
The Italian circuit has been permanently back on the calendar since 2020, when with Covid it was reinstated after a long absence, in a World Cup played almost entirely in Europe to avoid intercontinental travel. Since then Imola has returned permanently to the calendar, initially in place of the Chinese GP, with a contract until 2025. Last year the race was canceled due to the bad floods that hit the surrounding area.
This year, however, everything is ready for the GP with Max Verstappen ready to take back first place after Lando Norris’ surprising victory in Miami.
Verstappen announcement before Imola: here’s where he will race
Not just the actual race, the Dutchman will also have another commitment close to the GP. Verstappen himself announced it through a live streaming of Team Redline. Max, in addition to the race and all the media commitments he will juggle over the weekend, will also be the protagonist of the virtual 24 Hours of the Nürburgring on iRacing.
This is a virtual race which will be played with the simulator on a special platform. It will also take place between 18 and 19 May close to the commitments in Imola. When he is not involved in the race and other commitments with the media, the Dutchman will therefore be involved in this type of test in which he will certainly want to excel as usual. It is not yet known which other Redline teammate he will share a GT3 car with.
It is not the first time that the world champion has tried his hand at virtual racing: he is a great enthusiast and already last winter he won two such races. In his free time, the Dutchman enjoys virtual gaming a lot, as he admitted several times in various interviews.
In the meantime, he will have to defend first place in the driver rankings in Imola, consolidated again in 2024, to reach his fourth consecutive world title. On the Emilian circuit, Max will drive an updated single-seater with a new aerodynamic and technical package. A choice also implemented by Ferrari which hopes to get even closer to the top positions in one of the two home GPs.
