Verstappen Racing has announced that its Sim Racing division, Team Redline, has been rebranded to Verstappen Sim Racing. The team now takes its name from four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen.
The rebrand sees the retirement of one of sim racing esports’ most illustrious brands. Team Redline, founded in 2000 by Dom Duhan, has competed in multiple esports titles, such as Assetto Corsa, iRacing, and Rennsport.
At the Esports World Cup 2024 & EWC 2025, Team Redline won the $500,000 Rennsport Sim Racing competitions.
Verstappen integrates racing brands
The announcement brings the Sim Racing team in line with Verstappen Racing, the real-world racing division of the Verstappen umbrella.
Verstappen raced for Verstappen Racing recently at the GT3 event at the Nurburgring, where Verstappen finished first but was subsequently disqualified for using too many tyres over the weekend.
Verstappen Racing has stated its ambition to improve by using Verstappen Sim Racing as a platform to promote drivers to real-world racing.
As part of the announcement, Verstappen Racing stated, “Verstappen Sim Racing will serve as a key part of Verstappen Racing’s driver development activities, providing a pathway for virtual talent to progress through the racing ladder.”
That is a feat already achieved by Team Redline, whose graduate, Chris Lulham, won on the 24 Hours of Spa in class and claimed Gold Cup titles in both the Endurance and Sprint championships alongside Thierry Vermuelon.
Max Verstappen himself is an avid Sim Racing enthusiast, frequently streaming himself playing Sim Racing games during the Formula 1 offseason.
Verstappen provided the following statement as part of the announcement:
“Sim Racing is a big passion of mine outside Formula 1, and Team Redline has been a big part of that. It is where I spend a lot of my time off track, and part of what I am building with Verstappen Racing.
“This step to Verstappen Sim Racing feels very natural. We’re taking everything we’ve achieved and bringing it closer in line with the wider Verstappen Racing platform. I’ve always believed that sim racing can develop real talent, and we’re already seeing that with Chris Lulham. I’m really excited to keep building on the success of the team and see what the future holds.”
Are you sad to see Team Redline go as an esports brand? Share that on our esports Discord channel!
For more Sim Racing news, the F1 Sim Racing World Championship Season Kicks Off at DreamHack Birmingham.
Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
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