Max on strong Friday: 'Our simulator is really good'
Published on 10 November 2018 by Stefan Meens
From the word go, Max Verstappen hit the ground running as he drove his first laps of the Brazilian GP weekend. Max explained to Ziggo Sport why: “Before we head to the track, we spend a whole day in the simulator and set up our car. I think our simulator is really good. There is hardly another team that can set up the car in their simulator. It really works well for us, especially in the second half of the season we really got to grips with it. If you find a good balance on the sim, you arrive at the track with an advantage."
Because of the extensive testing in the simulator, a ‘first lap’ no longer feels like one. “Because of my experience of the last few years, I know the tracks and know where to brake. On a new track it takes about five laps. Here in Brazil, I’ve done plenty so the only thing you gain in the first few laps is the feeling for the level of downforce and where you need to brake or roll the car.”
The last sector at Interlagos is not suited to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. The main straight features a steady incline where the team loses a lot of time. Therefore, Max does not expect to fight for pole position. “If we want to, we have to head into the last sector with an advantage of 0.35s. Realistically we should be fifth and sixth. Maybe if someone makes a mistake we can be ahead.”
