Max gets to grips with Silverstone

Published on 20 March 2014 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen travelled to the United Kingdom to absolve a two day test on the famous Silverstone circuit. Taking to the track in a Formula Renault 2.0, Max proves a fast learner as he sets the fastest lap of the first day.

As his new Van Amersfoort Racing F3 car is not ready yet and there are only a limited amount of testing days allocated to FIA Formula 3 European championship drivers, Max drives a FR2.0 courtesy of Fortec Motorsports. The English team, based not far from the Northamptonshire track, prepare Max for his first taste of Silverstone. The day is divided in four forty-five minute sessions.

The 16-year-old shares his experience: "I wasn’t able to do many laps in the first session as my seat wasn’t very comfortable so it needed some adjusting. So I wasn’t able to learn that much from the few laps I eventually got in."
The second session proves more useful: "I was able to do a long stint to really get to know the track. It went really well despite lapping on old tyres and I came within a second of the fastest lap. That's something I’m pretty pleased with." Max shared the circuit with six other FR2.0 drivers, three were part of the Fortec Motorsports.

During lunch, Max analyses the data from the morning sessions with his engineer. After that, it is time for the final two sessions of the day. In the third one, most drivers opt to go out on a fresh set of slicks. Verstappen junior decides to stay on 'old rubber'. There is significant difference between used and a brand new set of Michelins, about six, seven tenths per lap. It is therefore all the more impressive that Max is only two to three tenths slower than the frontrunners on new slicks. "It definitely went well in the third session", explains the satisfied Silverstone rookie.

Heading into the final session on Thursday, Max has a set of new tyres fitted. "Immediately the car felt good. After two warm-up laps I entered my 'fast' lap but unfortunately, someone's engine had just blown up in the last corner. It meant there was oil on the track and I almost lost the car resulting in a loss of about four tenths."
Nevertheless, Verstappen junior manages to put in the fastest lap of the day. "Today wasn’t so much about lap times. I’m here to get to know the track in preparation for my first Formula 3 race. That is the goal and I’m glad I achieved that today."

On Friday, Max will again test at Silverstone. Keep an eye on Verstappen.nl for the latest new regarding this test and further preparations for Max' F3 début.