Porsche Supercup driver Wouter Boerekamps has recollected a moment
which highlights how Max Verstappen is able to jump between
different machinery with ease and do what "nobody" else can. The
four-time world champion will make his competitive GT3 debut this
weekend at the Nordschleife , driving a Ferrari 296 GT3. Speaking
exclusively to RacingNews365 , Boerekamps recalled a pivotal moment
from 2020 when Verstappen first encountered a Porsche 911 Cup car
at the Hungaroring – the home of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Boerekamps, who recently secured his maiden Supercup victory at
Monza, was working as a driver coach for GP Elite at the time. "Max
Verstappen once drove in Budapest, I think that was the first time
with a 911 Cup car. Then without ABS," Boerekamps recalled. "He
goes onto the track he arrives at Turn 1 on new tyres. He brakes
and just all four wheels are stuck. Totally flat." The cause of
Verstappen's error was immediately clear, and was linked to what he
had become so accustom to in F1. "He's used to pedalling 140 kilos
with a Formula 1 car. So he stepped on the pedal way too hard,"
explained Boerekamps. However, what followed left those in Budapest
amazed, as Verstappen demonstrated his precision, car control and
awareness of the finest details. "Our engineer was the point of
contact," Boerekamps continued. "Then Max came in and asked 'how
hard do you actually have to pedal?' The engineer indicated 60 or
65 bar. To which Verstappen asked whether it should be 60 or 65.
"The engineer ended up saying 65. Then he put new tyres on the car,
drove it out and he immediately hit 64.8 or 64.9 bar, with the
whole brake trace just being straight. That's not normal, nobody
does that. Except him." Verstappen in the Porsche Supercup? On that
day, Boerekamps observed another key detail to Verstappen's driving
style, in that the majority of his steering he does using his
pedals. "And he also does virtually nothing with his steering
wheel," revealed Boerekamps. "He steers in and then he steers that
car with his pedals. He does everything with his pedals."
Verstappen's performance left Boerekamps hugely impressed, but also
convinced he had the ability to win an F1 race and a Supercup race
on the same weekend. "I firmly believe that if Max decides next
year to drive one weekend in Supercup and Formula 1 at the same
time, he will simply win both those races." He continued: "The most
important thing a driver has to have is adaptability. That's what
the guys I coach learn. "Because if you adapt to your
circumstances faster than someone else, then you are faster. Very
simple."
which highlights how Max Verstappen is able to jump between
different machinery with ease and do what "nobody" else can. The
four-time world champion will make his competitive GT3 debut this
weekend at the Nordschleife , driving a Ferrari 296 GT3. Speaking
exclusively to RacingNews365 , Boerekamps recalled a pivotal moment
from 2020 when Verstappen first encountered a Porsche 911 Cup car
at the Hungaroring – the home of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Boerekamps, who recently secured his maiden Supercup victory at
Monza, was working as a driver coach for GP Elite at the time. "Max
Verstappen once drove in Budapest, I think that was the first time
with a 911 Cup car. Then without ABS," Boerekamps recalled. "He
goes onto the track he arrives at Turn 1 on new tyres. He brakes
and just all four wheels are stuck. Totally flat." The cause of
Verstappen's error was immediately clear, and was linked to what he
had become so accustom to in F1. "He's used to pedalling 140 kilos
with a Formula 1 car. So he stepped on the pedal way too hard,"
explained Boerekamps. However, what followed left those in Budapest
amazed, as Verstappen demonstrated his precision, car control and
awareness of the finest details. "Our engineer was the point of
contact," Boerekamps continued. "Then Max came in and asked 'how
hard do you actually have to pedal?' The engineer indicated 60 or
65 bar. To which Verstappen asked whether it should be 60 or 65.
"The engineer ended up saying 65. Then he put new tyres on the car,
drove it out and he immediately hit 64.8 or 64.9 bar, with the
whole brake trace just being straight. That's not normal, nobody
does that. Except him." Verstappen in the Porsche Supercup? On that
day, Boerekamps observed another key detail to Verstappen's driving
style, in that the majority of his steering he does using his
pedals. "And he also does virtually nothing with his steering
wheel," revealed Boerekamps. "He steers in and then he steers that
car with his pedals. He does everything with his pedals."
Verstappen's performance left Boerekamps hugely impressed, but also
convinced he had the ability to win an F1 race and a Supercup race
on the same weekend. "I firmly believe that if Max decides next
year to drive one weekend in Supercup and Formula 1 at the same
time, he will simply win both those races." He continued: "The most
important thing a driver has to have is adaptability. That's what
the guys I coach learn. "Because if you adapt to your
circumstances faster than someone else, then you are faster. Very
simple."
The post Staggering Max Verstappen story revealed: 'Nobody does that' appeared first on RacingNews365.