Yesterday I watched the Max Verstappen interview hosted by petrol head Chris Harris and if you love your motor sports it is definitely worth a watch. These types of interviews are very rare as Max enjoyed this one so we should expect more of these in the future. This interview served two purposes with firstly the obvious getting to know Max on a personal level and secondly as Ford were the sponsors they needed Max to drive their new Mustang GTD. The new Mustang is still in development so with Max driving they will receive data that other drivers would not necessarily give them.
Next year Ford are supplying Formula One engines/power units to the Red Bull Formula One team so this is the upside of the partnership having the use of Max Verstappen testing whatever they are developing out.
What I found fascinating with this interview was how it was conducted as you learn far more about how a racing driver thinks compared to the average Joe. How he grew up competing against his dad on two lap races in the go karts and how they adjusted the competitiveness to increase Max's skills. His dad was obviously heavier than Max who was still a kid so he had a bigger engine fitted to equal the engine and speed output of what Max was using. Weight slows you down so this adjustment made the racing competitive. These were the years where he learned and honed his skills which sets him apart from other drivers.
What we are taught with regarding negotiating corners is not what Max has been taught and it is not about just hitting the apex as they see a corner so differently to you and I. A corner becomes a V so the later breaking and turning results in getting the car quicker on the acceleration instead of taking the racing line.
I have done the advance driving courses and skid pans and never looked at a corner as a V because I guess I do not race cars for a living. Spotting your breaking point and not the apex is the opposite of what I would have thought, but when you see Max do this you understand why.
Max being coached by his dad Jos who was an ex Formula One driver shows the difference of having that training today. Most drivers before a Formula One weekend will walk or cycle around the track so they can get their bearings of what the track offers. Max does not do this as he only needs less than 5 laps to be up to speed with only one of those slightly slower getting and understanding the layout.
During the interview he takes the new Mustang for a test drive and each lap Max is not only testing out the car he is also testing out the surface of the race track. Each lap gets quicker and quicker and has the car on a string knowing where the limits are.
What is refreshing to see is Max loves to drive and he sees everything as a new challenge and why he wants to race on any track including Daytona and Sebring. Formula One is not the be all and end all as he wants to race other events and something suggests he will as he owns his own racing team.
I recommend those that like motorsports to give this video a watch as this is only 38 minutes long and the time flies by so quickly and this is very different unlike other interviews I have watched before.