F1 News
Verstappen embraces mentor role: 'Always open to give tips'
- Kimberley Hoefnagel
Max Verstappen announced a few days ago that his racing team, Verstappen.com Racing, will compete in endurance racing next year. One of the drivers signed was Chris Lulham, who makes his switch from sim racing to real-world action. Preparing his team for the season, the Dutchman is present in Monza.
The new project is in full swing, Verstappen confirmed. "We are busy working on that now," he said at Viaplay's event in Zandvoort, where GPblog was also present.
"I'm at Monza today (Friday). We are testing here, kind of monitoring everything and seeing how things transform. Of course there is work to do, that's quite normal." The last comment applies not only to the car, but also definitely to the drivers of Verstappen.com Racing.
"We have three drivers on one car in endurance and two in the sprint category," he continued. "Step by step, of course, we are trying to get it better. Of course also with Chris, a simulator driver, [it's important] that he feels himself comfortable in the car. In the end, you can prepare very well in the simulator, but when you're in the real car with the G-forces, it all feels a bit stranger. So we are working hard to make him feel a bit more comfortable in the car."
Chris Lulham: from sim driver to GT3
Asked if it was difficult for Lulham to make the switch from sim driver to racing on track, Verstappen answered: "I think there are a lot of very good simulator drivers. But of course it's about understanding things: the input itself, the set-up, can you adapt quickly under different conditions and in different cars?"
"All these things he could already do very well on the simulator. Whether it was a Formula car, a GT car, back to hypercar, dry, wet, strategy..." According to Verstappen, Lulham was one of the drivers who really stood out in that regard. "That's why I do think he's also the most likely to make the step up to real racing."
Now that Verstappen.com Racing is also taking up and running, Verstappen will have the chance to teach a generation of new drivers a thing or two about racing. In doing so, the four-time world champion has actually become a kind of mentor to the youth. "I think I am always quite an open book. If people ask me things, I will always give my opinion about it, and if they need tips, I am open to that," he concluded.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi
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