WATCH: Max Verstappen Crashes Out in Heartbreaking Fashion While Leading 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

Max Verstappen has crashed out of the Virtual Le Mans 24 hours race. The F1 world champion was leading the race but could not control his car and spun into the Ford Chicane.

The 2021 world champion and Red Bull F1 driver was driving car #123. His crash also meant that his teammates Felix Rosenqvist, Max Benecke, and Atze Kerkhof are also out of the event. The Redline team took to social media to express their disappointment at the result.

“Endurance racing can be cruel sometimes. Nevertheless, an incredible effort by everyone involved, the pace our #123 had out there was nothing short of spectacular. We’ll be back, we’ll go again,” said the Team Redline.

WATCH STORY: Mad Max: Verstappen’s Angriest Rants on Team Radio

Max Verstappen gives credit to sim racing for his on-track success

In an interview with CarNext as quoted by FormulaPassion.it, Verstappen said, “It keeps me ready, and allows me to better analyze the configuration as well. I am not racing with a Formula 1 car in the simulator, but it is similar to an experience you have with GT cars, so you also adopt a different driving technique. I continue to test myself, especially against these drivers who are very fast.”

The Red Bull driver added, “It’s very interesting to see them drive because they don’t have a real driving experience but, somehow, when you look at how they brake or how they control as if they are actually racing. It is curious to be able to compare myself with them.

“Because they are fast on the simulator, just as I am in real life. For me, this is another motivation, because I’m sure when I want to jump into a real car like this, I’ll be fast. On the simulator, these guys are my point of reference, and I have to push myself to that limit. I like to challenge myself and improve myself by learning from them too, so in my free time, I’m still trying to improve myself, which I think helps me in real life as well,” he concluded. (Translated from Italian via Google)

With the 2022 Formula One season just a few months away, do you think Max will benefit from sim racing, as he gets ready to defend his world title next year? Let us know what you think in the comments section down below.

READ MORE: Why Was Max Verstappen So Crash-Prone Early in His F1 Career?