Max Verstappen is allegedly seen speeding on Monaco streets in a video that has gone viral on social media.
Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen was allegedly caught on camera speeding through a tunnel in Monaco while driving an Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar.
However, it is currently unknown whether the Dutchman will face any consequences from the authorities.
Just before the end of the summer break, the double F1 World Champion appeared in an online video that purportedly captured the Dutch driver speeding on a stretch of roadway heading up to Monaco.
The 20-second clip, shared on Instagram by Verstappen’s close friend Mark Cox, showed the driver piloting an Aston Martin Valkyrie.
The footage of Verstappen driving his €2.7 million Valkyrie along a stretch of the Nice Nord bypass expressway towards Monte Carlo garnered over a million and a half views in its brief appearance online.
Verstappen is shown in the video driving through the Canta-Galet tunnel while the passenger records. The speedometer on the car’s dashboard reads 124 km/h on a stretch of road where the legal speed limit is 90 km/h, meaning the Red Bull star was 34km/h over the limit.
The question revolves around how French police will view the incident despite the fact that Verstappen was driving in the left lane and wearing a headset (provided by Aston Martin to reduce the excessive noise of the Valkyrie for the driver) in addition to exceeding the permitted speed limit.
A €135 ($AU228) fine and three penalty points are assessed in France for exceeding the posted speed limit by between 30 and 40 km/h.
Renowned Red Bull Formula One engineer Adrian Newey designed the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar Max Verstappen was driving. Verstappen’s 2021 and 2022 Red Bull crowns are among the 11 Constructors Championships and 12 Drivers Championships Newey-designed F1 cars have won.
The Valkyrie generates up to 860kW and has an electronically-limited maximum speed of 355km/h thanks to a 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 engine and an electric motor.
Verstappen’s footage surfaced just a few days after a Pagani Zonda that became well-known under Lewis Hamilton’s ownership crashed in a UK tunnel. The hypercar’s driver lost control and slammed into the tunnel walls, leaving the driver unharmed but the car seriously damaged.
With 10 victories out of the 12 Grands Prix so far in 2023, Max Verstappen comfortably leads the Formula One championship standings with 314 points, ahead of teammate Sergio Perez in second with 189 points.
Verstappen has more points than the Mercedes-AMG team in second place as the team has a total of 247 points between drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, and the Dutchman will have the chance to extend his lead this weekend in the Dutch Grand Prix, which will be held at his home track, Zandvoort.