Verstappen gets it done at Road America in Redline pro event
March 31, 2020
Max Verstappen enjoyed a Monday night clean sweep at Road America, the Dutchman winning both rounds of the Team Redline Pro Series’ fourth event.
Verstappen rebounded from his under-performance last week at Watkins Glen to crush the opposition from pole in the first race but faced a fierce challenge from Daniel Juncadella in the second race of the Real racers Never Quit sim battle.
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The field of pro racers and sim racers was assigned 2017-spec European F3 cars while Elkhart lake’s Road America provided its scenic backdrop for the double 11-lap encounter.
Jenson Button was a surprise late edition to the event, the 2009 F1 world champion making his Esports debut. It was a low-key start however for JB who put only tow laps on the board in Race 1 and disconnected thereafter.
Verstappen dominated proceedings in the first battle of the evening, and appeared on track for an master class performance in the second heat until a mistake put him in the clutches of poleman Juncadella.
Earlier in the race, the Red Bull driver had sparred with F1 colleague Lando Norris, who had finished third in race 1, but a mistake saw the McLaren charger plummet down the field, leaving Juncadella to hunt down Verstappen.
The latter’s small mishap occurred two laps from the end, allowing Juncadella to mount a proper attack. But Verstappen fiercely defended his leading position, weaving on the straight and pulling out every trick in the book to fend off the Spaniard, even sending his opponent into the wall at one point.
But both drivers saw the checkered flag while Kelvin van der Linde finished a distant third.
Verstappen’s win allowed the Dutchman to strengthen his lead in the Team Redline Pro Series standings.
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