Max Verstappen just gave fans a sneak peek at the new Madring circuit—and it did not go smoothly. The four-time F1 champion was seen slamming into walls multiple times during what he called his “first lap” around the track.
But before you panic, here’s the twist: that chaotic run wasn’t real life. Red Bull released footage of Verstappen playing a video game version of the Madrid circuit, using a controller instead of a steering wheel. He admitted he had no clue where the corners were.
The video was actually filmed months ago, long before the summer break. It was purely social media content, not a serious practice session. Since then, Verstappen has logged countless hours in Red Bull’s actual simulator.
Still, the Dutch driver isn’t exactly singing the track’s praises. During a recent Twitch stream, he called the Madring “very difficult” and warned it could produce some big shunts. He compared it to Jeddah, with fast corners and walls that feel way too close for comfort.
One major concern? Overtaking. Verstappen pointed out that many braking zones are angled, forcing drivers to steer and brake at the same time—a nightmare for setting up passes.
“It’s the worst thing you can do for creating an overtaking opportunity,” he said.
With the F1 debut of the Madring just days away, all eyes are on whether the track will deliver 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒶—or just a lot of repairs. Will Verstappen’s early struggles be a sign of things to come, or just a funny memory from a video game session?
