Verstappen: The skills in race simulation “help” in F1
Max Verstappen is certainly the driver who spends the most time on a simulator. His team recently revealed that he spends numerous hours training virtually in order to know the track layouts perfectly.
If the Dutchman has been dominating Formula 1 for the past two years, it is not only due to his extraordinary car and natural talent. The driver enjoys participating in race simulations in his free time and according to him, it has a positive impact when he gets back in the driver’s seat.
A game taken very seriously.
Before participating in the 2023 edition of the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans on January 15th, Max Verstappen revealed that he was preparing for this type of race in the same way as a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
We treat this race like a real live race. We fine-tune the car’s settings and test it in the hottest and coldest conditions, in rainy and dry weather, and at night as well as during the day. Weeks of preparation are necessary, and many people don’t realize it.
A learning tool
The hours spent on a simulator are of great help for the return to reality. According to the 2022 world champion, it allows him to develop his driving skills. “The main thing is that on all simulator platforms, I drive cars that are not Formula 1. So you have to adapt and change your driving style, because each car requires something different in terms of steering, accelerator, and driving lines. I am constantly learning and adapting to what I need to do in each car to go as fast as possible,” he reveals to the Washington Post.
In the end, it helps you when you go back to Formula 1, because you have all this experience in mind. Sometimes, you’re not completely satisfied with the settings of your Formula 1 car, but you can rely on all your different experiences in the simulator.
The limits of the simulator.
Nevertheless, Max Verstappen acknowledges significant differences between race simulations and Formula 1. « I still believe that for people who have grown up using only a simulator, it’s a big leap to go straight into real-world racing. »
One of the essential points according to him remains physical condition, which is very important in F1 and cannot be found on a simulator. Real races have a physical aspect – you need to be fit and well-trained. On a simulator, even if you don’t have that, you can still be very fast.
