Max Verstappen News: F1 champion disturbed by surprise doping test before Dutch Grand Prix

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen has revealed he was woken up early by a surprise visitor ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

The Red Bull star recounted how doping officials came to his motorhome super early before the weekend's event to carry out a routine check.

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This year, the Red Bull star is once again leading the Formula 1 table, but his team's lead has shrunk.

However, a return to his home track – where he has won all three Grands Prix since Formula 1 returned to the Netherlands in 2021 – could be the ideal place for the 26-year-old to take his first win in five races after qualifying from P2 for Sunday's race.

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Max Verstappen surprised by doping test

Verstappen's preparations for the weekend, however, did not get off to a great start. He revealed that he was not woken up by his alarm clock before Friday's practice session, but by FIA officials who informed him that he had to take a doping test.

Doping tests for banned substances, such as those that could enhance performance, are common practice in elite sport. FIA-approved series such as Formula 1 are subject to the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“I had a beautiful morning this morning,” Verstappen began during a Twitch stream with his eSports organization TeamRedline.

Verstappen's streaming and gaming habits came under scrutiny after a chaotic race in Hungary and he was forced to deny that he had been banned from taking part in sim racing on race weekends.

While watching the Esports World Championship live, he continued his story, saying: “So I'm lying in bed and suddenly the doorbell rings.

“I think to myself, 'What the hell? Who the hell is ringing the RV doorbell?' And then I look at my phone, it's 7 o'clock [in the morning] and I think to myself: “What the hell is going on here?”

“So I go to the door, open it and, yes, doping control! At 7 a.m.! I just thought, 'Great, what a great start to the weekend!' Then it took me an hour to go to the bathroom, which was fantastic too.”

As is standard in doping tests, Verstappen had to provide officials with a urine sample for examination. “Yes, you have to wait until you can pee in the cup,” he explained, saying that he had done this many times before.

The Dutchman explained that he will be regularly tested for banned substances by the FIA ​​in 2024: “I don't know why, but this year I have already been tested five times, which I think is quite a lot in F1,” he said, revealing that he was only tested before a race in Spa.

To date, no F1 driver has been found to have violated anti-doping rules during their active career. However, part-time Super Aguri F1 Team driver Franck Montagny and three-time race starter Tomáš Enge tested positive for banned substances later in their careers and received a doping ban.

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