Max acquaints himself with a Formula 1 car at Rockingham

Published on 26 August 2014 by Stefan Meens

For the first time in his career, Max Verstappen sat in a Formula 1 car. With VKV City Racing scheduled for the upcoming weekend, Max travelled to the Rockingham Motor Speedway in order to prepare for his F1 demonstrations during Burning Rubber Live on Saturday August 30 and the free entry event VKV City Racing on Sunday the 31st.

The main goal of the trip to England was to get to know the Scuderia Toro Rosso mechanics and to get familiar with all the various procedures driving an F1 car. After being briefed how to start an F1 car, Max had the opportunity to do a couple of practice starts as well as an opportunity for a few drives up and down the main straight. Max’ familiarization process with the team and the Red Bull RB8, which featured a Scuderia Toro Rosso livery, was concluded within an hour.

Max: “It was awesome to sit briefly in an F1 car. The way it takes off and keeps on accelerating is amazing. In a Formula 3 car the speed increase levels off after third or fourth gear. However in this machine, there appeared to be no end to the acceleration.”

Before Max was able to hop in the car, a few things had to be sorted out. “I had not yet done a seat fitting so we weren’t sure if the seat I normally use would fit. Furthermore, the pedals had to be adjusted to my length.”
Once, the Dutchman got in the cockpit, he seemed very much at ease. “When I got in for the first time, I remained cool and took off without stalling the car.”

In other words, Max knows what he is up against when he takes off in a Scuderia Toro Rosso racer upcoming weekend in the streets of Rotterdam. “They’ve explained some things regarding the clutch, driving off and the set-up I’ll be using next weekend. Furthermore, we double checked pretty much everything so I’m well prepared ahead of VKV City Racing. It’s a fantastic event and I can’t wait to entertain everyone!”