Max Verstappen’s approach to the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix showcased his commitment to excellence ahead of the inaugural race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. As the fight for the drivers‘ championship intensified, Verstappen sought an unconventional method to enhance his readiness by creating a personalized simulator model of the track, allowing him to prepare more thoroughly than his rivals.
Intense Championship Battle Spurs Extra Effort
The 2021 Formula 1 season featured a fierce rivalry between Verstappen and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Every race, including the new Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, carried significant weight in their championship duel, which culminated in a dramatic and controversial finale in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen’s determination to gain any advantage led him to go beyond the standard team resources to simulate the challenging Jeddah circuit.
Building a Unique Simulator Track for Competitive Edge
Red Bull Racing’s simulators did not initially include the Saudi Arabian track, so Verstappen took the initiative to find an external source capable of building a replica for his personal simulator. This allowed him to complete countless virtual laps and refine his skills on the circuit long before others had the chance, giving him a noticeable advantage during practice sessions.
High-Level Visualization and Relentless Practice
Bradley Scanes, Verstappen’s performance coach, highlighted the driver’s dedication to virtual training and visualization techniques. This modern approach involved repetitive virtual laps that helped Verstappen master the nuances of the demanding Jeddah circuit, which proved difficult for most drivers during the first practice session. His exceptional pace was evident as he consistently set the fastest sector times, a testament to the hours of simulator work he had invested.
Determination Sets Champions Apart
Scanes emphasized how Verstappen’s work ethic distinguished him from many peers, pointing out that while natural talent is often recognized, the champion’s mindset involves countless hours of focused preparation. Although Verstappen did not win the Saudi race due to multiple factors, the speed he exhibited during qualifying before his incident demonstrated the potential impact of his meticulous simulator training.
Max is a little bit more of that new generation of simulator driver where they’re getting so many virtual laps of a track that they’re doing some real high-level visualisation stuff,
Scanes said on the High Performance podcast.
I think a lot of this gets missed when people talk about Max, and he often gets branded as a natural talent. This has been years and years and years of hard work.
—Bradley Scanes, Performance Coach
Red Bull didn’t even have the simulator version of the track in their simulator, and Max managed to find someone online to build out what the track looked like, a spec to put on his own simulator. So he could practise the track. So he was able to practise the Saudi track on something that no one else had access to.
—Bradley Scanes, Performance Coach
This is the sort of work ethic and the differences that make champions, right? This is 2021. We’re in a title fight. Every little bit matters. And ultimately, we didn’t win Saudi for a number of reasons, but you know, you could see the pace that he set first off and actually his qualifying lap before he pinged the wall would have probably gone down as one of the greatest ever.
—Bradley Scanes, Performance Coach
Impact on Future Race Preparation
Verstappen’s self-driven simulator initiative during the Saudi Grand Prix highlights the evolving role of technology and personal discipline in Formula 1 preparation. By setting this precedent, he demonstrated how drivers could supplement team resources with bespoke training tools to gain critical advantages. As the sport continues to expand into new venues, such hands-on efforts could become increasingly vital in the pursuit of championship success.
