ESports: Max wins in Spain, Norris disconnects

Michelle Foster
Max Verstappen quirky

Max Verstappen P2 in Porsche Superup Esports event.

Championship leader Max Verstappen claimed back-to-back wins in the Redline’s Real Racers Never Quit series at the virtual Catalunya circuit while Lando Norris disconnected.

Last week the Red Bull driver snubbed Formula 1’s Virtual GP, explaining to Ziggo Sport that swapping between ESports series was not as easy as it may look.

And Verstappen races to win.

He told the Dutch broadcaster that he “won’t” race in the F1 series, “especially since I never play that game.

“It will take days to understand the game just a little bit better. And I don’t want to get into it right now.

“Also because I’m very busy with the other racing games. So switching between all those games just doesn’t work for me.

“And on top of that I always race to win. I’m not going to drive around somewhere at the back. Then I’d rather not participate at all.”

Instead the Dutchman has stuck with iRacing.

Racing against 40 fellow pro racers in the Redline Esports event on Tuesday, Verstappen raced from lights to flag in both 12-lap races in the GTE cars.

Verstappen took the race victory by 9.6 seconds ahead of Porsche Supercup race winner Larry ten Voorde before being beaten by Voorde in Race 2.

While fellow F1 driver Norris joined Verstappen on the front row for Race 1, finishing fourth, he wasn’t able to take the start grid for Race 1 after disconnecting from the server.

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