How Max Verstappen is a Sim Racing GENIUS

Verstappen the current F1 World Champion - but he’s one of the top three sim drivers in the world.

And nobody has done that before - been right at the pinnacle of both sports.

So in a world where being a pro sim driver is a full-time job, how does he do that AND win the F1 World Drivers Championship?

Well, it’s down to his specific technique, so let’s break it down.

Look at this - this is Max driving at Bathurst. One of the most technically challenging circuits on the planet, and he is driving flat out, right up close to the walls - leaving ZERO margin and completely understanding his car.

It's Max’s qualifying lap at the iRacing Bathurst 12-hour last year. He is in the top tier, racing the best sim drivers and teams in the world. He set a time four-and-a-half tenths faster than ANYONE ELSE.

Four and a half tenths is a lot in real-world racing - where conditions can change a lot - making the track faster, or a driver could get a tow and gain half a second.

But in the sim, it’s just each driver and the lap. Nobody else is on the circuit and identical conditions - then four and a half tenths is a massive amount.

Then this - it’s the start of Le Mans Virtual this year. He starts fourth and makes an incredible launch to first before the first chicane - he then runs away with it. Pulling out an enormous lead (before the game crashes - but that’s another story).

He’s racing pro esports drivers like James Baldwin, ex-F1 drivers like Romain Grosjean, F2 Champion Felipe Drugovich - and drivers who have won the real Le Mans 24.

And Max calmly drove away from them.

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#SimRacing #MaxVerstappen #DrivingTechnique

[jordanrobinson]

I beat Max in an MX5 race in an iRacing hosted session along with Shane Van Gisbergen one day by one tenth of a second. Happened over two years ago and I think I'll be riding that high for another 8 at least.

[LMS]

Max being as quick as he is on the sim is incredible, mostly because the guys he's up against often do this as their job...so their chosen sim/car they drive day in, day out...Max doesn't have that luxury with his F1 schedule and fitness training. To be as quick as he is, is insane.

[vinhluu]

Max stated in an interview that he DOESN'T have a racing sim on his airplane (1:49) but, instead, in his trailer/motorhome that he uses to drive to races in Europe. Personally, I don't think it's outrageous if he did have a racing sim on his airplane 🙂

[SuellioAlmeida]

He's insanely dedicated. He puts in more time than almost everyone else in prep for special endurance events.

[MapleShrimp]

That Bathurst lap was one of the most incredible feats of driving that I've seen in my life, virtual or not. On the ragged edge the entire time, maximizing his use of the track... There's a reason he's a bloody champion.

[XBullittX]

You can drop Max in a shitbox and he'll still drag out times thought to be impossible, the kid is a genius and the more I learn and watch him, the more evident this has become to me. He'd be a champion in any Motorsport or car he drove, that's just nuts, very few drivers can pick up a new motorpsort so quickly and be quick too.

[nimascolari]

I'd say the most impressive thing is how the game developers have managed to make the Sims so realistic that an F1 champion says the cars react like real life.

[richboy]

Max is lightning, there's no other word. He genuinely reminds me of Senna or Schumacher in his will to win and competitive nature

[AndreaGiramondi]

You should have also mentioned that he competed in the iRacing Porsche Esports Supercup in 2020 in the Spanish GP (wildcard). Qualified 6th and finished 2nd in the feature race, only behind his team mate (Benecke) who was competing for the championship and not attacked him because of it. PESC is the best sim racing championship yet and he almost won a feature race in a one off appereance...Mind blowing

[MikeThePikeOnAHikeOverTheDike]

Hearing things like he's opening Fifa packs before quali or he is in the sim 3 hours after a race (win) just blows my mind. This guy is just different all around. And I love ut.

[Aljess]

Max is the real deal and has been for a long time. I’m a huge Kimi fan and when he overtook him on the outside, in the wet, at Brazil made me see how good he really is. Easily the BEST driver on the F1 grid right now

[shenalashendra]

His unrelenting dedication is what makes him stand out . Say what you want but he is one of the best F1 drivers ever.

[mgers]

Ive been iracing since 2009 and I only heard of the turn up the tire sounds/turn down the engine sounds trick like 3 months ago. I didn't even realize they could be turned up/down independently. It definitely helps me get more out of the rubber!

[flamingburritto]

Max verstappen is the Renaissance man of the racing world. A generational talent! I can't wait to see what the future holds for him!

[TheGkUnion]

Max is so talented I wish people could appreciate him without having to pit him against their fav driver. I've been a Lewis fan since I was a boy (25 now) but why can't we just appreciate talent...

[xxczerxx]

Max is a living embodiment of what a human can do if they achieve their potential. Granted, there is some natural gift in there also, but the man is almost a cyborg that has spent its entire life on a track, either real or virtual.

[Masaiaa]

Goes to show Max is a true driver in every aspect in comparison to many others.

[hishamhilal]

What a legends. Finishes a race only to hope on the sim and race more

[apophisstr]

The level of confidence Max had is what I admired the most, not afraid to face head-on against a completely different platform that is filled to the brim with alien talents to prove his speed.

[hmdwgf]

Verstappen's driving style is very similar to Michael Schumacher's, in that Schumacher also liked a pointy car that he could make micro-corrections while turning in the corner. Raikonnen was also like that. It's one of 3 F1 driving styles that are most commonly known. There's the Prost driving style (very smooth, likes understeer, car rarely ever out of shape, one-time throttle input out of corners, easier on brakes and tires; Vettel and Button were like that) and the Senna driving style (aggressive attacking style, constantly on and off the throttle, moves the car around; Alonso and Hamilton are both like that).