Max Verstappen starts preparation for his debut in Formula racing in 2014
Published on 17 October 2013 by Johan Peeters
After an absolute dominant season in which he won all of the prestigious karting championships in 2013, including the CIK-FIA World Championship KZ, Max Verstappen has started his preparation for next year by testing for three different Formula Renault 2.0 teams so far.
Max - at that time only fifteen years of age - debut in a race car was during a private test in August with Dutch Manor MP Motorsport on the circuit of Pembrey in Wales. His impressive performance during this two day test was observed by only a handful of people in order to keep the pressure away from the young Dutchman.
Max: "When we came here I didn't know what to expect, but everything went well, even in the rain. Now I am looking forward to do more tests in a racing car."
On October 9th and 10th Max went to Germany to join the Belgian team of KTR for a two day test at the Hockenheim Grand Prix track. After being invited by team principal Kurt Mollekens, Max started this test on Wednesday to gain experience and to get used to the track. The test continued under dry conditions. In what should be his penultimate session Max damaged the floor of the car and he lost the opportunity to go out on a set of new slick tyres to set a fast lap time.
On Thursday the day started with heavy rainfall and during the two 45 minute morning sessions Max had to go out on rain tyres. During these sessions Max made good progress which satisfied both the team and the driver. After lunch the rain had stopped and the track started to dry. On used tyres and on a track with a few tricky wet spots Max was able to produce a faster lap time then he did on Wednesday. The plan for his last session was to go out on used tyres, come in after ten laps, go out again on a set of new slicks to set a few quick lap times. Just at the moment the car was fitted with fresh rubber the session was stopped because of a car losing oil on the track. Yet again Max wasn't able to set a quick lap time on new tyres leaving him a little disappointed after two days in Germany. During this two day test Max did 160 laps with a best time of 1:40:00.
Max: "It is a pity that we couldn't go out on a new set of tyres on both days. The car felt well balanced, no over- or understeer. I learned a lot during these two days."
For his third test on October 15th and 16th Max was invited by the Finnish Koiranen GP team to test their Formula Renault 2.0 liter car on the circuit of Alcarras near Barcelona in Spain. Gaining experience and mileage in a race car still was the main goal during this two day test, but Max meanwhile showed his potential to put the car faster around the track than a driver for Koiranen GP ever did. During the first day the team didn't change much on the set up of the car to let Max get used to oversteer which he will encounter during races. Even in this situation and running old tyres Max performed well. He ended his first day at Alcarras on a set of new tyres, with a time of 1.29.4 just one tenth of a second faster than the best time ever produced in a Koiranen FR 2.0 car on Alcarras.
On Wednesday Max continues his impressive showing by setting a 1.29.0, halve a second faster than the team's best time ever set by Kevin Korjus.
Max: "On Wednesday I managed to do a really quick lap but this time could have been faster because I ran a little wide exiting the chicane putting one wheel on the grass which cost me some time."
The team and Max used the afternoon to simulate two short race distances with standing starts. During these simulations Max was able to set constant lap times with every lap within a tenth of a second of each other which left Koiranen GP and Max satisfied after this two day test.
After these three tests Max will be given more opportunities to test a racing car in order to get him ready for a single seater campaign in 2014. For the latest news on Max Verstappen please have a look at news.verstappen.com. We will keep you informed!
Johan Peeters
