Verstappen becomes youngest points scorer in F1 history

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Max Verstappen cemented his place in Formula 1 history today by becoming the youngest driver in the history of the sport to score points.

At just 17, the Dutchman’s ascension into F1 has sparked controversy in the sport, with many claiming that he simply isn’t old enough and is too inexperienced to be racing in the world’s premier single-seater championship.

However, he proved his critics wrong in Malaysia on Sunday by producing a composed and mature display to finish seventh for Toro Rosso.

Verstappen even managed to pull off some impressive overtakes on Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and his own Toro Rosso teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr.

The previous record was set at last year’s Australian Grand Prix, when Daniil Kvyat finished ninth at the age of 19 years and 324 days.

This was obliterated by Verstappen on Sunday, though, as he scored six points for P7 at just 17 years and 180 days. Unsurprisingly, the Dutchman was rather pleased with his display.

“I really enjoyed that!” Verstappen said. “I’m very happy to have scored my first ever points in F1 and to end seventh!

“I think we did a great job as a team. The first few laps were a bit tricky for me as I was struggling a lot on the medium tires, so we boxed early for the hard ones and that worked perfectly, the car felt great.

“We had a few good fights with other competitors and it was good fun. This was the right strategy and we did a great job managing the tires. I felt well physically, it was quite hot at the end but I was still able to cope with it and be consistent, so I’m happy with that.

“This is a big boost for the team, we couldn’t have done a better job today.”

It is likely that Verstappen’s new record may never be beaten, with a new rule coming into force for 2016 that requires drivers to be at least 18 years of age to race in Formula 1.

IndyCar disappointed by delay of video game but aiming to launch at start of 2024

IndyCar video game 2024
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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”