Max: “Had problems with matching wind tunnel and circuit”
Published on 10 May 2017 by Mike Motilall
In the run up to the Spanish Grand Prix, which will take place this weekend, Max Verstappen had a phone interview on the Coen en Sander show on Radio 538. Max looks ahead at the Spanish Grand Prix, the updates on the car and the Jumbo Racedagen in Zandvoort, taking place the week after on May 20th and 21st.
Max first tells everyone that he is looking forward to the race in Barcelona: “Yes, absolutely. We have a lot of updates on the car and last year was a pretty special weekend, so I am looking forward to it. If four cars drop out in front of us, we are looking good”, the youngster wittingly remarks when being asked if last year’s victory will be possible again this year.
Why the updates are put on the car in Barcelona, has to do with the following according to Verstappen: “Everything is designed in the wind tunnel. When you find something that works, it still takes two weeks to manufacture. Then you also need to test it on the circuit and also hope it works. It needs to match and that’s not always the case. I think that this year it’s somewhat harder for us regarding what comes out of the wind tunnel and what makes it out on track. Apart from that, we have been oversees a lot. Now that we are back in Europe, it’s all close by to the factory, so we are able to put on a lot of new parts on the car in one go.”
Just like Red Bull Racing, other teams will also show up with updates. The Dutchman expects some shifts in the pecking order: “Yes, I think you will see some shifts. Not at the front per se, but more in the middle. Hopefully we can catch up with those two at the front.”
The victory in Spain last year made him famous overnight, although Max doesn’t really see it as a turning point in his life. He didn’t need to get accustomed with it: “Before that, everything was going well also. Of course a win like that really does help. My life was all about racing, I don’t know anything else. I am just doing my thing. Luckily everything regarding racing has been positive so far, so you worry less because everything is going as it should.”
Despite critique on his way of driving in previous years, Verstappen has earned his keep in the Formula 1 establishment: “It always takes some time before you get to know each other. I am just doing my own thing and I think that has always been my strong point so far, so you shouldn’t change that.”
The weekend after the Spanish Grand Prix, the Jumbo Racedagen in Zandvoort will take place. For a lot of fans, it is their only chance to see Max in action on Dutch soil: “I am very looking forward to it”, says Max. “Last year it was a super event already, so hopefully it will be even better this year and I am even going to see a lot more people, that would be great.”
If you also want to be there on Circuit Zandvoort on May 20th and 21st, during the pre-sale of the Jumbo Racedagen, tickets for the ‘Formula 1-paddock’ are available. Also available are limited tickets for the main grand stand, including access to the Formula 1-paddock. Tickets are available at www.circuitzandvoort.nl.
Just like last year, there are also free tickets for the dunes available; upon purchase of Red Bull discount products. Further information regarding that at www.jumboracedagen.nl.
