Video game-lover Max Verstappen has signed an endorsement deal with EA Sports for the upcoming 2023 season, as has Red Bull development driver Daniel Ricciardo.
EA Sports, who are a division of Electronic Arts, announced that they’d be working with the duo for the forthcoming season, with the EA logo set to feature on Verstappen’s helmet throughout the season.
The Dutchman will also be involved in content creation by the company, who are, of course, the developers of the official Formula 1 video game.
SVP of Brand for EA SPORTS & Racing Andrea Hopelain is incredibly pleased to have Verstappen onboard with EA Sports, with the hope being that the 25-year-old can “bring more fans together” through their various games.
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“Max is a tenacious competitor and true champion who shares a deep love of games and play. As he races into Formula 1 history, we are excited to collaborate with him as one of the best athletes in the world to bring more fans together through our EA SPORTS experiences.”
Verstappen is known for being a huge fan of gaming and is supposedly a very good FIFA player, with the driver having reportedly played the football video game in between sessions when he joined the pinnacle of motorsport.
Nowadays, the double World Champion is best known for being an incredibly fast sim racer, with Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko having revealed that the Dutchman was fitting a simulator into his private jet.
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Whilst Verstappen has since denied this and explained that Marko “misunderstood”, the Dutchman can’t hide his love of gaming, making him very “proud to represent” a company as iconic as EA Sports.
“Whether it’s playing games with my friends or staying competitive when away from the track, EA SPORTS has always been a big part of my life. EA SPORTS is an icon for so many millions of fans, and I’m proud to represent them for the 2023 season.”
Shots of Verstappen’s new helmet have already been revealed following Red Bull’s launch of their 2023 car last Friday, with the Dutchman’s lid having a clearly visible EA Sports logo underneath the visor, directly on his chin.