Formula One Driver Max Verstappen Joins Sim Racing Team

The racing genre has seen a resurgence of late with true-to-life depictions of motorsport such as Gran Turismo, Forza Horizon, and Project CARS enjoying a fair share of popularity aside from smaller titles like Asseto Corsa and the Dirt series from Codemasters. While players of these games would like to test their mettle in real tracks, barring the GT Academy - which handpicks the best racers in the Sony exclusive to hone their skills in real life - it is slim pickings.

(Also see: Top 5 Racing Games You Should Play Before the New Need for Speed Is Out)

Which is what makes Max Verstappen, a Formula 1 driver who placed fourth in the recently concluded Hungarian Grand Prix, joining Team Redline such an oddity. Team Redline is a professional video game racing outfit that competes in games like iRacing and rFactor 2.

"I enjoy simracing outside of Formula 1. Ive been working with Atze [manager for Team Redline] for a while already and of course with Team Redline and Fanatec I'll be sharing the virtual track with the fastest simracers in the world which is a great test and the way I like it!" said Verstappen in a post on Team Redline's Facebook page.

(Also see: Project CARS Is Getting a Crowdfunded Sequel)

This isn't the first time Team Redline have managed to get a professional driver on board. Richie Stanaway, Nick Catsburg and Kelvin van der Linde have all driven for Team Redline before.