Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsToro Rosso

Verstappen hones overtaking skills on simracing

Toro Rosso rookie Max Verstappen says he has been using gaming in order to perfect his overtaking skills, which allowed him to pull off a series of eye-catching manoeuvres over the last couple of grands prix.

The 17-year-old joined top simracing squad Redline in late July and immediately set about training for Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.

Starting from the back of the grid at both venues, Verstappen drove two fine recovery races, which included a pair of ballsy passes around the outside of Sauber’s Felipe Nasr. The first move came at the ultra-fast Blanchimont left-hander in Belgium, while the second one took place at the first chicane of the Italian track.

“[Simracing] is always good because you know how much space you have,” said Verstappen.

“Also, sometimes you go a bit too far and you know that you can't do it. I think it helps me. I mean I did it for Spa and I did it again for Monza and two times it worked on the real track.

“The overtake I did on Nasr, I did exactly the same in the sim again.”

Should you need any evidence, here is a video of the Dutch teenager perfecting his craft in the virtual world.