Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion, has informed Red Bull that he is not interested in Daniel Ricciardo’s simulator data and would want to complete the task on his own.
Max Verstappen’s teammate Ricciardo returned to Red Bull as the team’s third driver after having his contract with McLaren terminated and being left without a full-time F1 ride for the forthcoming season. Ricciardo was Max Verstappen’s teammate from 2016 to 2018.
Daniel Ricciardo will spend time on the team’s simulator in addition to participating in marketing initiatives and serving as Red Bull’s backup driver for a few races in 2023.
Max Verstappen, a two-time world champion said he would like to do the job himself in order to customize the car setup to his unique driving style.
Also, Max Verstappen told Speedweek, “The days in the sim can be long, but I am certain that this type of labour is worthwhile.”
“As far as I’m concerned, unlike other teams, I don’t want a test driver operating in the simulator. Everyone has a different driving style, therefore I want to improve on it personally. My ability to concentrate has improved. After all, the only thing you can really do at home is practice on the simulator. Moreover, I find it enjoyable.”
In order to get more practice in as he attempts to become just the fifth driver in F1 history to win three consecutive championships, Max Verstappen has even outfitted his private plane with a racing simulator.
I want to work on it myself because everyone has their own driving style – Max Verstappen
Sport1 received the following statement from Red Bull adviser Helmet Marko: “He even had his private jet adapted so that he may fly a simulator in the air in the future. However, that’s also a good thing because Max requires this diversion. In any event, it had no negative effects on his two titles.
Max Verstappen enjoys playing racing video games a lot outside of the track, and his team, Team Redline, has even participated in online competitions. He participated in the Virtual Le Mans 24 Hours race, but he lost it when he lost connection while in the lead.
After being fired from McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo was hired as Red Bull’s third driver for 2023. Daniel Ricciardo’s job is expected to include both simulator testing and promotional activities.
The position gives Daniel Ricciardo time to rest away from the track as he plans to compete again in 2024. The eight-time F1 champion expressed excitement about returning to the factory to compare himself to Max Verstappen and Perez on The Beyond the Grid Podcast.
