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Max Verstappen is not any stranger to battling a McLaren driver on monitor – whether or not it’s in Components 1 and even within the digital world.

The reigning four-time F1 world champion has blazed a path for motorsports’ elite to turn into a dominant drive in sim racing as nicely.

The Crimson Bull star made numerous headlines throughout the first half of final season for his stints of sim racing that clashed with F1 weekends.

Verstappen received the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola after his Redline staff took first within the digital Nurburgring 24-hour race.

He later sparked controversy when he completed fifth on the Hungarian Grand Prix months later amid a number of agitated outbursts, having been seen up at 3am that morning whereas collaborating in a web-based race.

Crimson Bull chief Helmut Marko claimed Verstappen was banned from late-night occasions, one thing which the motive force later denied.

Learn extra Max Verstappen information

What’s true is that Brit starlet Taylor Barnard, who competes in Components E for McLaren, has picked up bans from on-line recreation lobbies.

Throughout an unique interview with talkSPORT Driving, the 21-year-old confessed that he and McLaren reserve driver, Alex Dunne, shared Verstappen’s philosophy that ‘the competitors is simply as exhausting as actual life’.

Barnard stated: “After we do sim racing, a part of that’s attempting to have enjoyable and combat with one another on monitor.

“We did get right into a little bit of a scenario the place we should not have been driving so aggressively.

“I would not say that what we did was horrendous, actually, it is nothing you do not see in Components E daily.”

Barnard’s digital tussles have additionally seen him cross paths with Verstappen, as has seemingly turn into customized for a McLaren driver.

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The latter racked up penalties for collisions with Lando Norris final 12 months on monitor, however the battles with papaya racers continued at residence.

Barnard added: “I race in opposition to Max very often truly – there’ve been a couple of occasions the place we simply pop into the identical foyer as one another, have a random combat after which we depart and we by no means talk about it.

“To have the ability to have that sort of expertise with Max, I believe, is superb.

“And to have the ability to race so intently and spend numerous time racing somebody with that sort of expertise, it means quite a bit.

“Not solely that I can sustain, and I can combat him, but in addition to have the ability to spend that point with somebody like him.

“That is a chance that you simply would not be capable to get if wasn’t for sim racing.”

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Barnard has not simply been impressing within the digital world, having bagged 5 podiums, two pole positions and a quickest lap this season.

The Norwich-born star adopted the identical pathway as most en path to reaching F1 after debuting within the two junior classes earlier than.

Nevertheless, Barnard made the daring determination to department out and take a look at himself in Components’s electric-racing sequence for 2024/25.

On making the leap from F2 to Components E, he added: “I do not converse to numerous the F2 drivers – I believe numerous them are very very centered on F1 and maybe just a little bit closed-minded.

“I believe Components E is a good championship to return into – I am personally loving it, after all, I am doing nicely, so I’ll be a bit biased.”

Barnard will now hope to cap off his first 12 months by ending second within the F3 championship on the season finale at London’s ExCeL Centre.

It is McLaren’s remaining weekend within the sequence earlier than the F1 constructors’ kings pull out to give attention to the 2027 World Endurance Championship.

As such, it will show further particular to Barnard if he might ship his first victory on the season-ending London E-Prix, stay on talkSPORT 2.

He stated: “I need to end second [in the championship] as a result of that is the perfect I probably can, but when I may be within the prime three in my rookie season, that will be mission full, I’d say.

“If I might win a race, that will even be superb – however the final objective is to complete second within the championship.”

Dwell motorsport returns to talkSPORT2 this weekend with unique commentary of the ultimate weekend of the Components E World Championship in London.

Britain’s Oliver Rowland clinched the World Championship in Berlin, however his work is not performed there as his Nissan staff battle it out with Porsche for the Groups championship at ExCeL Centre in East London.

Be part of us on talkSPORT2 for unique commentary from 5pm on each Saturday and Sunday afternoons – and for a full race preview, try talkSPORT’s motorsports YouTube channel – talkSPORT Driving.