Max after his first F1-lap on Circuit Zandvoort: 'Going to be a challenge'
Published on 04 March 2020 by Mike Motilall
Max Verstappen drove the first lap in a Formula 1-car today on the newly improved Circuit Zandvoort. By doing that, the Dutch Aston Martin Red Bull Racing-driver opened the still fresh track where the entire Formula 1-field will be let loose when the Dutch Grand Prix gets underway during the weekend of May 3rd.
Circuit Zandvoort is now characterized by two corners with banking, the Hugenholtz corner and the Arie Luyendijk corner. Particularly that last corner is much talked about due to the unique gradient of no less than 32 percent. This should ensure that the drivers make it through the final corner with their DRS fully opened.
“It was awesome”, as Max relays to Verstappen.nl. “The track was already nice to drive on, but the adjustments that have been done make it even more special. Especially Turn three, the banking there is great and you are able to drive different lines. That also goes for the final corner. The steering wheel gets very heavy there and when we start using DRS during the Grand Prix-weekend, it will be a challenging but fun corner.”
Max continues: “In general I think that the entire track is going to be a challenge. It is of course still an old school circuit. There aren’t that many run-off areas, but that is not needed, I think. It adds to the excitement. I am very much looking forward to race here with the current cars.”
On the question whether Max has gained any advantages with these first laps, he replies: “I have only done a couple of laps of course. Luckily everyone has enough simulator time and training to get to know the track, so everyone will be well prepared. A lot of the guys know Zandvoort already, so it will be more of getting to know the banking. But that shouldn’t be any problem for a Formula 1-driver.”
What is it like to negotiate Turn three? Max: “I never expected the third corner to be so steep. The inside drops away from you, so to speak, so it is somewhat of a blind corner turning in. Also, the rest of the corner is taken differently than you are used to and that makes it pretty remarkable. It will take some laps before you find the ideal line there. The whole circuit is challenging. There are many fast corners.”
After a few flying laps in the RB8 on Circuit Zandvoort, Max gets in a cool Aston Martin, in which he takes his old man for a few laps. Both Verstappen senior and junior were visibly enjoying that.
Jos doesn’t like being a passenger, not even his son’s. Max says the following about that: “I think that Jos still doesn’t like sitting next to me, but I didn’t go all out. We talked a bit and had some fun.”
The Dutch Grand Prix will truly be a home race for Max on May 3rd. How does that feel? The Dutchman says: “I am very much looking forward to it. The support by the fans has always been there. With a home race it is definitely going to be a madhouse. I hope that we get a nice and positive weekend.” Does it make you proud? “Absolutely. I am really looking forward to it. I have seen a lot of fans on the other circuits, so it can only get better at this Grand Prix.”
