Red Bull Racing’s F1 champ Max Verstappen takes us on a very strange training day, while getting ready for Spa.
Red Bull would like you to imagine that Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen was sucked into his simulator. While practicing on his sim for the Belgian Grand Prix at the iconic Spa circuit, suddenly he was transported to a different world. A world where the biggest challenges aren’t the Eau Rouge Raidillon combination or Charles Leclerc but instead are dirt roads, explosives, and some of Belgium’s leading off-road drivers.
In a sort of F1 meets Tron concept, the “From Sim To Reality” video makes the sport a whole lot more interesting than it already is.
“Last year’s Belgian GP was the wettest conditions I have ever driven in. I wanted to prep properly, and my engineers made it a real challenge. The gaming approach was really fun. Asphalt, off-road, day, night, being chased by a helicopter … I’m ready for you, Belgium!” said Max Verstappen.
Spa Day Turns Into Dirt Bath
He starts off at Spa, then is quickly transported by his race engineer to a sand mine in Malmedy. For that track, the RB7 Formula 1 car was fitted with special wheels and tires that could handle the sand. Then he had to wait for the dust to settle from the car and camera copter between takes.
In case the sandy course wasn’t enough, construction crews set off explosive detonations around the track. Sure, Max isn’t at too much risk, but it looks amazing.
Next up is a pit-stop challenge. Racing down a winding road, it’s 2022 Tour de France green jersey winner Wout van Aert, who gets the flat tire. The Red Bull crew finds out if it can swap a cyclist’s rubber as quickly as it can change all four F1 car tires.
“I’m used to being chased, but not by a Formula One car. They tend to go a little faster. The flat tyre was unlucky, but thankfully I had help from the world’s fastest pit crew. Waving to Max Verstappen as he passed me by in his RB7: bucket list stuff!” said Wout van Aert.
F1 Champ Takes On Dirt Road Dominators
Then a multiplayer level. WRC driver Thierry Neuville and Red Bull off-road driver Guillaume De Mevius show up to challenge Max in Dirt Racer. Max cries foul until he gets an off-road buggy of his own, and then shows off that he is capable on gravel as well as pavement.
Time for a break — it’s the Donut Challenge. The three drivers try to do the most donuts in 30 seconds. One car catches fire, another gives up, and we won’t tell you which is which.
In the Chase level, Max gets a ridiculous rear wing and some neon underglow, while a helicopter hunts him down looking to get a 3-second lock.
After the fun, it’s time for Max and Red Bull Racing to buckle down. The Spa race is this weekend, and Max is defending champ. Of course, last year’s race saw so much rain that only two laps were actually run, and both of those were behind the safety car because faster driving would have ended in tragedy.
With a 2021 race like that, it’s no wonder that Max and the team need to get reacquainted with the course.
Like most things Red Bull does, this video is high on action and speed and big on fun. Absolutely worth a watch as you wait for the F1 summer break to finally wrap up this weekend.
