Max, Suzuka, and the Consistency Forged in Sim Racing

When Max Verstappen crossed the finish line at Suzuka—arms raised, voice steady over the radio: “We never give up, we keep pushing together!”—he wasn’t just sealing another win in his already legendary career. What we witnessed was the culmination of something deeper: a way of approaching racing that blurs the lines between physical and digital, real and virtual. It was a victory of consistency, precision—and yes, simracing.

Suzuka has never been a forgiving track. Technically demanding, punishing with every mistake, and with precious few overtaking spots. But somehow, Max has always made it look effortless. As if each flowing corner of the Japanese circuit moves to the rhythm of his inner metronome. In 2025, that rhythm was once again in perfect harmony.

Starting from pole, Verstappen controlled the race like he was born to do it. With two razor-sharp McLarens—Norris and Piastri—breathing down his neck, he never flinched. Not when Norris tried to undercut him during the pit stops, forcing Max to rejoin just inches ahead. Not when the gap shrank to a mere second. Each lap was a masterclass in control: no more, no less than what was needed.

https://twitter.com/redbullracing/status/1908773964266299793

And that’s the real key. Because if anything defines Verstappen beyond raw talent or his wheel-to-wheel tenacity, it’s his consistency. That ability to deliver, lap after lap, with mechanical precision. And interestingly, part of that isn’t honed on the track. It’s sharpened in front of a screen.

Yes, Max is a simracing enthusiast. He competes in high-level virtual races with the same intensity as real-life Grands Prix.

He doesn’t see it as just a game—it’s a tool.

A mirror. A way to keep his reflexes sharp, his focus unshaken. When he talks about his Team Redline or the late-night endurance races he runs from home, you can hear the same seriousness he brings to every Formula 1 weekend.

Many have criticized him for this. For staying up racing online before a real GP. But he’s been clear: “I’ve won three world championships; I think I know quite well what I can and cannot do.” The truth is, that passion makes him more human. Far from being a robotic driver, Max shows us there’s a person behind the helmet—someone who lives and breathes racing in all its forms. Who finds speed not only on track, but in every virtual corner, too.

Suzuka 2025 wasn’t just another win. It was a reminder—that greatness in Formula 1 is no longer built only in factories or test days. It’s forged on keyboards, in the early hours, in the mental discipline that the virtual world demands.

Max Verstappen won in Japan. But he won it months earlier, when he chose to keep racing—even in front of a screen. Because consistency doesn’t begin when the lights go out. It’s built every single day.

Recommendations

When considering the this bundle, it’s essential to weigh it against competing offerings and potential upgrades. For those seeking a significant upgrade from lower-end direct drive wheels, the Fanatec offering delivers unmatched performance and versatility.

This steering wheel seems to be a new bundle around the ClubSport DD+ as it was the Gran Turismo DD Extreme.

Prices for this are:

• Fanatec EU: Fanatec ClubSport Racing Wheel F1 (1299.95€)
• Fanates US: Fanatec ClubSport Racing Wheel F1 ($1299.95)
• Fanatec AUS: Fanatec ClubSport Racing Wheel F1 ($2139.90)

F1 Drivers Simulators:

• Lando Norris
• Charles Leclerc
• George Rusell
• Carlos Sainz
• Checo Perez
• Fernando Alonso
• Antonio Giovinazzi
• Max Verstappen
• Oscar Piastri
• Liam Lawson

See you on the trac!