Max overtakes 3641 runners during Wings for Life World Run

Published on 08 May 2016 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen operated as a 'rolling finish' line in Sunday's Wings for Life World Run. During the Dutch leg of the world wide event, Max drove the Catcher Car. Every runner overtaken by the Dutchman in the car is out of the race. The last man standing wins the event. The idea behind the event, hosted simultaneously in 33 countries, is to run for those who can't. All the money raised will go to the spinal chord research foundation. 

During the event, the Dutchman had time to answer some questions, the first one being what he thought of driving around so slowly during the Wings for Life World Run. “I have to maintain a certain speed, starting at 15km/h. But it's a lot of fun and I can encourage the runners. It's great to see the enthusiasm of the runner so it really doesn’t matter to me how fast I'm going. I'm just happy to be part of such a wonderful cause.”

Naturally, Max's recent switch from Scuderia Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing had to be addressed during the interview. “Of course I'm really happy: it's a top team that's won world championships. They're very ambitious to win more so I think I'm in the perfect position. At the moment it's all about feeling comfortable in the car and getting to know the team and their procedures. If that goes well, I believe we can get close to a podium this year.”

Switching teams also means switching team mates. Max will join forces with Daniel Ricciardo. “He's a little bit older than me, but he's a very nice guy. Of course he's pretty fast, so hopefully I can learn a lot from him.”

With the Spanish Grand Prix only a week away, Max is working hard to be fully prepared. “I've just come back from Red Bull Racing in England, today it's the Wings for Life World Run and next week I'm back in England for more prep. The car has to be set up for me, which means a seat fitting, adjusting the pedals, steering wheel at the right hight etc. It's tricky to switch teams during the season but I've got all the confidence in my new team”, concludes Max as he continues to overtake runners.

In the end, Max passed 3.641 participants. The Peruvian athlete Emerson Trujillo was the last person to be overtaken and therefore the winner during the Dutch edition of the Wings for Life World Run. Trujillo managed to run for 64.4 kilometres before being caught.

However, Giorgio Calcattera set the overall world record. The Italian managed to stay ahead of the Catcher Car for 88.4 kilometres. The Japanese Yoshisa set a new women's world record, achieving 65.7 kilometres.