By electing to attend last week's Gran Turismo World Finals in Monaco off his own back on a rare weekend free between Formula 1 races, Max Verstappen highlighted the genuine attraction of top level Esports events.
Verstappen, fresh from his win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, was not there as a paid celebrity to give it endorsement. Instead, he simply wanted to cheer on his Team Redline sim racing team-mate Mikail Hizal, and the Red Bull driver was left raving about the atmosphere and buzz inside the arena.
"It will definitely be the future," Verstappen tells Autosport afterwards, regarding the boom in Esports.
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