“What is the fake R9 doing with the goat of racing?”- Fans react as controversial Brazilian football icon Adriano awards the pole position trophy to Max Verstappen at Interlagos

Adriano has been the most celebrated player in the Pro Evolution Soccer videogame.

“What is the fake R9 doing with the goat of racing?”- Fans react as controversial Brazilian football icon Adriano awards the pole position trophy to Max Verstappen at Interlagos

Adriano (L) presenting Max Verstappen (R) the Pirelli Pole Position trophy (Via IMAGO)

The crowned champion, Max Verstappen, showcased his prowess as he weathered the storm, both in terms of weather conditions and fierce competition, to secure his 11th pole position of the season at the Brazilian GP. To commemorate his achievement, he was awarded the Pirelli Pole Position trophy by the Brazilian football legend Adriano.

The qualifying session began with a delay due to debris on the track, caused by punctures for Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso during Free Practice 1. Stepping into the race, Race Director Niels Wittich had banned stopping at the end of the pit lane to prevent impeding incidents.

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Max set the stage in the first runs of Q3, securing provisional pole with a lap time of 1m 10.727s. However, the ever-changing weather at Interlagos was the true antagonist. All the drivers who started their laps later had to face the consequences of rain closing in fast, which altered the track conditions massively. The session was red-flagged eventually, preventing drivers from making any last-minute improvements to their lap times.

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The Pirelli pole position award was handed to him by Brazilian football legend Adriano, also known for his legendary status in the Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) gaming community. Adriano, renowned for his time with Italian clubs Parma and Inter Milan, earned the moniker “L’Imperatore” due to his powerful left-footed strikes.

His career, marred by personal challenges like temperamental issues, depression, and alcohol struggles, led to an early retirement. However, his virtual prowess in PES, especially in PES 6 with a perfect 99-rated shot power, secured his enduring legacy.

Fans are thrilled to see the epic crossover between F1 and football

Adriano’s award presentation at the Brazilian GP stirred a storm on social media, with fans expressing a spectrum of reactions. Some fans, harboring past football wounds, struggled to accept a legend from another sport presenting the trophy, resorting to derogatory comments like, “What is Fake R9 doing with Verstappen?” 

Max Verstappen at the Mexican GP (Via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen at the Mexican GP (Via IMAGO)

Another part of the fandom claimed that he is not the “legend” the people claim he is and urged F1 to bring in someone else with the phenomenon the next time. The term ‘fake R9’ might have been used to compare Adriano’s impact on the game to that of Ronaldo Nazario, another Brazilian football legend. Adriano also made headlines during the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix when he visited the Ferrari team.

Despite these critiques, many responses were characterized by positivity and nostalgia, inundating the comments with adoring terms like “emperor” and references to his extraordinary “99 Shot power.” The intersection of football and F1 enthusiasts celebrated the unique crossover, describing it as an unexpected delight. Many even expressed the desire to frame the iconic moment.

Adriano’s dual role as a football legend and a PES gaming icon brought a diverse range of reactions to his presence at the Brazilian GP, from scepticism to adoration, underlining the unique intersection of sports and gaming in the hearts of fans

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