Max Verstappen F1 News: FIA tests Red Bull star with shock drug test for BANNED substance

Max Verstappen was surprised when he was woken up early on Friday morning for a doping test.

The three-time world champion was sleeping before training for his home race when he received a visit from officials.

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The RedBull This year, the star is also leading the table, but his and 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.

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Verstappen's preparations did not start off well. He revealed that his alarm clock did not wake him up before the race. Friday trainingbut by FIA officials who informed him that he had to take part in 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 was under surveillance after a chaotic race in Hungary, and he had to deny that he excluded from participation in sim races on race weekends.

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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 'awesome, what a great start to the weekend!' Then it took me an hour to go to the toilet, which was also fantastic.”

As is usual 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 added, revealing that he had done this many times before.

The Dutchman said that he was 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 in F1 I think is quite a lot,” he said, revealing that he was also tested in Spa last time.

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 Tomas Enge tested positive for banned substances later in their careers and both received doping bans.

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