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Just days after a controversial move on George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has drawn criticism again, this time in the virtual world. The reigning F1 champion crashed with 16-year-old racer Oliver Knott during an online iRacing FIA F4 session, sparking a strong reaction from the teenager, who posted a video about it on social media.
Verstappen is no stranger to online racing and has long been an active member of the sim racing community in his involvement with Team Redline. However, his intensity behind the screen can tend to reflect his on-track persona, at times blurring the line between competitive aggression and carelessness.
The latest instance unfolded during a 15-minute iRacing race, where Verstappen was involved in an incident heading into Turn 13 of the Watkins Glen Boot layout. Young F4 driver Oliver Knott posted a video of the incident on X and wrote:
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"Taken out by 4 time F1 World Champion @Max33Verstappen"
In the video, Max Verstappen, running 10th, can be seen taking a tight line on the corner entry, attempting to claim position on the inside. As the turn tightens, Verstappen makes contact and forces Knott wide, resulting in the young racer being pushed off the track. The incident ends Knott's charge, with the post-race logs confirming the disconnection of both racers shortly after.
While the sim world is known for its intensity, the Red Bull Racing No. 1's aggressive style on and off the track has often divided opinions. His tenacity is celebrated when it leads to wheel-to-wheel brilliance, but cases like this support the perception of a driver who is unwilling to compromise, even when the stakes are virtual.
The crash drew wider attention because it followed closely on the heels of a controversial late-race clash with George Russell in Barcelona.
Max Verstappen in danger of a race ban after George Russell clash
The collision with George Russell during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen was eventually penalized, has already placed him under heavy scrutiny. The race initially saw Red Bull's strategic intent, as he executed an aggressive three-stop plan to keep pressure on the leading McLarens.
After briefly taking the lead mid-race, the strategy began to unravel once a Virtual Safety Car reshuffled the pack in the closing stages. Verstappen was running third in the final stint when he lost grip and Charles Leclerc passed him following the final restart. Moments later, George Russell attempted a move at Turn 1.
Verstappen was left out of space and forced onto the escape road. While he retained his position, he was asked to give back the position to Russell. This led to the two coming together at Turn 5, leading to a 10-second penalty for the Dutchman. Despite finishing fifth on the road, Verstappen was demoted to 10th.
Adding to Red Bull's woes, the penalty awarded Max Verstappen three points on his FIA Super License, taking his tally to 11 out of a possible 12. Just one more infraction before Austria could see the defending champion serve an automatic race ban, a potentially season-defining scenario for both Verstappen and his team.
