A DNF and podium round up Max' third FWS event
Published on 15 February 2014 by Stefan Meens
The second and third race of the third Florida Winter Series round at the Homestead Speedway proved to be a heated affair. The youngsters participating in the series supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy were fighting ferociously for the podium.
Unfortunately, Max Verstappen was in the midst of a kerfuffle as he did not finish race 2 after fighting for seventh with Antonio Fuoco.
Despite the second race not ending well, Max retaliated with a strong performance in the final race of the Homestead round. The 16-year-old took a third place home, even though the car was not performing to its full potential. This podium is Max' second in three races, a testimony to his strong performance as he is up against very experienced single seater racers.
Undoubtedly, the biggest bonus of the event is the vital experience Max is gaining as he deals with less than ideal situations. It will make him a stronger, more experienced racer.
Accompanied by glorious sunshine, the drivers await the start of the race
Race 2 sees the drivers line up on the grid according to the reverse results of the first race driven on Thursday. As Max claimed a third place in that race, the talented youngster would starts from P9. After several good starts far for Max, he suffers a poor start resulting in him dropping back into last place after the first sector. Resilient as always, Max fights his way back to ninth before the first lap is completed. In the following two laps he manages to progress to seventh as he overtakes Raffaele Marciello and Tatiana Calderon. Then, Max and Fuoco start an intense battle for P7, after the Italian managed to pass both Marciello, Calderon and Max in the opening stages of the race.
"Things were going well in the first race until I ended up behind Fuoco. He braked way to early into turn seven. I chose to drive along the outside, pass him on the left. But as I turned into the right hander, he accelerated full on and bashed against my right rear tyre. This resulted in my DNF as the right rear suspension broke because of the impact", explains a less than amused Max.
Calm and composed Max' Formula Abarth is rebuild, a top job by the team
Fuoco is able to continue his race and finished in fifth behind race winner Nicholas Latifi. Meanwhile, the mechanics have their work cut out to prepare Max' car in time for the third and last race, in which Verstappen junior starts from pole position. "It was a lot of work but the guys got my car ready in time."
Max has a good start but Fuoco has an even better get away. In the minor skirmish following the run down the straight, both Fuoco and Latifi pass Max. The 16-year-old karting champ gives his all to try and keep up but the car is not as drivable after the repairs.
After the car is build back up, it receives its last checks
"Pretty much from the start I struggled with my front wheels locking up. It felt as if they lifted off the track and I lost all grip and break pressure." Max continues: "Even on the long straight, where the breaking problems weren't an issue I struggled to keep up despite extracting the maximum out of the car. No idea how they've done it but Fuoco's car has such a high top speed, no one could match it."
Despite the difference in speed and the breaking problems, Max manages to keep the car on the track and is able to hold on to third, three seconds behind Latifi and eleven behind race winner Fuoco. The six second gap between Max and reigning European Formula 3 champ Marciello in fourth, is a good indication how well Max performed in the last race of the third FWS round.
Max is kept up to date via the radio and the old school pit board
Combined with the vital experience again gained, the Dutchman can look ahead full of confidence to the final Florida Winter Series round held February 17-19. The Homestead Speedway will again be the host. This time, the drivers will face a different lay-out of the Miami based circuit.
Results day 3 (Friday February 14) – Homestead Speedway – Florida Winter Series:
Results Race 2
Results Race 3
