Verstappen Credits Red Bull Simulator Drivers For 'Enormous' Progress Made

Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at 07:30

Max Verstappen is happy about the progress that Red Bull has made when it comes to the testing and simulator work.

In recent years, Red Bull has been above everyone in F1 in many different aspects. From speed on track to world record-breaking pit stops, the Austrian team just seems to be one step ahead of everyone.

But there's much more behind a successful team than what the eye of a viewer can see on the screen. A lot of work is done in the factory to create a unique car, such as the RB20, and similar effort is then made in the wind tunnel and on the simulator.

According to Verstappen, who spoke to the Dutch version of the publication Motorsport during Bahrain pre-season testing, Red Bull made a significant improvement when it comes to simulator drivers and work done before the car hits the track.

"We have made enormous progress in recent years, that all things that go from the wind tunnel to the car also work immediately. The simulator is also important in that and the guys who do their work there."

Read also

Red Bull's Key Partner 'Frustrated' By 'Lack Of Full Transparency' In Horner's Investigation

Rudy van Buren is Red Bull's simulator test and development driver, and as such, he has first-hand experience with the simulator and how the car behaves on it.

As Verstappen's compatriot and teammate, van Buren often talks to the three-time World Champion, informing him about the progress made, which then helps the Dutchman on the race track.

"Of course I have a lot of contact with Rudy. He tells me what he has tried in the simulator and then we talk about it. We discuss what he has learned or he says 'maybe we should do this or we should see if that aspect is still can improve'."

For Verstappen, it's important to have a reliable person who takes care of the simulator, and having his compatriot as one of them is certainly important for him because it then makes his job much easier.

"It is nice to have someone so high up in the team, who helps ensure that the car is properly set up right away. Rudy and a few other simulator drivers test everything, from the smallest adjustments to the craziest things. When I go to the simulator, everything is actually fine and it really requires fine-tuning."