In the Red Bull camp, the so-called ban on Max Verstappen's late-night simulation races during Formula 1 weekends is in fact merely a "recommendation."
Dr. Helmut Marko, the Formula 1 advisor for the energy drink giant, has now adjusted his earlier statement, confirming that he and Verstappen had "agreed" that activities extending "well past midnight" would no longer occur.
Upon hearing about the supposed restriction, the three-time world champion Verstappen responded: "No, it's not that I have a ban or whatever. I don't need to tell them what they do in their private time during the weekends, and that's the same for me," said the 26-year-old.
81-year-old Marko subsequently clarified that his conversation with Verstappen regarding his nocturnal habits was actually just a "very strong recommendation."
"There is not a ban," he explained to Sky Deutschland, "but a very strong recommendation. He has a completely different sleep pattern, but such things that can be used against you must be prevented. However, it is all a strong recommendation," the Austrian elaborated.
The issue of Verstappen's gaming habits only surfaced when he seemed particularly irritable during the Hungarian GP weekend, unlike when he triumphed at Imola earlier in the year after another late session.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, commented post-Hungary that Verstappen was not behaving like a "team leader."
"Maybe not so much a team leader but more so just always remember you are a teammate with lots of people and you have to act like a world champion," he remarked.
However, Verstappen was unfazed by Hamilton's comments, stating to Viaplay, "Everyone can have their opinion. That's all fine, but I can't do anything with that. It's not my problem either."
He suggested that Hamilton was merely behaving like a competitive rival.
"For me that's what it is, anyway," Verstappen added. "Everyone has their own opinion, of course, and they all just do their thing. I go home, I do my thing."
