Max Verstappen News: F1 champ awoken by surprise drug test ahead of Dutch Grand Prix

Max Verstappen in Zandvoort — Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

Verstappen awoken by SURPRISE drug test ahead of Dutch Grand Prix

The driver was rudely awoken early in the morning

Originally written by Rhys Thomas. This version is a translation.

Sunday 25 August 2024 03:00

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen has revealed he was awoken early by a shock visitor ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.

The Red Bull star has told the story of how doping officials arrived at his motorhome super early ahead of the weekend's event for routine drug testing.

Article continues under video

The Red Bull star leads the standings in Formula 1 once again this year, though he and his team have seen their advantage reduced.

However, a return to his home circuit - where he has won all three grands prix since F1 returned to the Netherlands in 2021 - could be the ideal place for the 26-year-old to pick up his first win in five races having qualified P2 for Sunday's race.

Triple world champion Max Verstappen once again leads the standings

Max Verstappen says the he has been hit with five drug tests this season

Max Verstappen taken by surprise with doping test

Drug testing for banned substances, such as those which could enhance performance, is commonplace in elite sports. FIA-sanctioned series like F1 fall under the World Anti-Doping Agency's regulations.

"I had a lovely morning this morning," Verstappen began explaining whilst on a Twitch stream with his eSports organization, TeamRedline.

Verstappen's streaming and gaming habits were under scrutiny after a messy race in Hungary, and he had to deny that he had been banned from participating in sim races at race weekends.

Max Verstappen has become known for his sim racing and streaming activities

Continuing his story whilst live for an Esports World Cup watch along, he said: "So I’m in bed and suddenly the doorbell rings.

"I'm like, ‘what the f***? Who the f*** is ringing the doorbell of the motorhome?' And then I look at my phone it’s 7 o'clock [in the morning] and I’m like, 'what the f*** is going on?'

“So I go to the door and open the door and, yep, doping control! At 7am! I was like 'Great, what a great start to the weekend!’ Then it took me one hour to go to the toilet, so that was also fantastic."

As is the custom in drug tests, Verstappen had to offer a urine sample for officials to test. “Yes, you have to wait until you can pee in the cup," he explained, saying that he had done so many times.

The Dutchman said that he has been tested for banned substances by the FIA regularly in 2024: "I don't know why, but this year I have been tested already five times, which I think in F1 is quite a lot," he said, revealing that he was also tested in Spa just one race ago.

No F1 drivers have been found to breach anti-doping regulations whilst competing in the sport, though part-time Super Aguri F1 Team driver Franck Montagny and three-time race starter Tomáš Enge did test positive later in their careers for prohibited substances, and received bans.

Red Bull Max Verstappen Formula 1 FIA Dutch Grand Prix