Dennis debunks theory after debut: 'RB19 wasn't designed for Verstappen'
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Jake Dennis got the chance to drive a Formula 1 car for the first time during Red Bull Racing's first free practice on Friday. And what a one: Max Verstappen's number 1 RB19. The Austrian racing stable's simulator driver enjoyed it immensely.
Dennis himself competes in Formula E, Formula 1's electric counterpart. The two racing classes are not comparable. Besides his work as an FE driver at Avalanche Andretti - where he even became world champion last season - he regularly sits in the simulator to help Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez get a good set-up for the RB19.
Dennis immediately feels good in RB19
"I do think, like just jumping in the car today, obviously I don't drive F1 cars. I do a lot of simulator work, but you just jump in this car and it just feels completely natural," Dennis told F1TV. "I don't agree when people say, like, 'oh the car is designed for Max and all this.' Like, I jumped in that thing today and it just felt like exactly how a race car should, you know? It does what you want it to do."
Dennis denied the suggestion that Red Bull is thus only developing to Max's preferences. "It turns the way it should turn, and I think people who are often skeptical to jump to the conclusion that this car is purely made for Max, it's really not the case. Any team goes out there to build the fastest race car possible, and then it's up to the driver to adjust to that. I think that's exactly what Red Bull have done, and Max, obviously the talent he is, has done that."