Max Verstappen’s former senior engine technician, Calum Nicholas, recently shared a detailed account of taking Verstappen for a lap around Silverstone, revealing the unexpected pressure during the outing. The experience took place on a chilly pre-season day at the Northamptonshire circuit and involved Verstappen pushing Nicholas to drive quickly in his Audi RS6, while race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, also known as GP, kept a watchful eye from the back seat.
Calum Nicholas volunteers for a recon lap before testing begins
In a video on Instagram, Nicholas explained how he volunteered to take Verstappen around Silverstone before the Red Bull driver stepped into the car for the new season’s first track session. The idea came from GP as part of the usual filming day activities, a practice common among Formula 1 teams to prepare the car before heading to pre-season testing, such as the Bahrain session.
“It’s a couple of years ago, pre-season, and we’re doing our normal filming day,”
Nicholas said, describing the usual process that involves a light car run to shake down the machinery. With the weather cold and wet, GP suggested someone should take Max for a reconnaissance lap, and Nicholas eagerly put up his hand.
Nerves build as the Audi RS6 lap starts
Nicholas was excited to take his 2013 Audi RS6, a car he loved despite its age and mileage, out on the track for the first time. However, the thrill quickly gave way to pressure as the details of the task became clear. Nicholas realized the fuel gauge showed only 30 miles remaining, a distance that disappeared quickly on a racing circuit.
“It was more nerve-wracking than I thought it would be,”
Nicholas reflected on the pressures he faced. Sitting at the wheel with Verstappen beside him and GP behind, as well as performance engineer Tom Hart present, Nicholas felt caught between wanting to go fast to satisfy Verstappen’s urgency and keeping pace steady to heed GP’s caution.
The conflicting calls from Verstappen and the team
As Nicholas navigated the lap, he was pulled in two directions: Verstappen encouraging him to speed up, while GP warned him not to push the car beyond what was necessary. This created an intense and uncertain atmosphere, making the simple lap feel far more stressful than expected for Nicholas.
“But Max did make me laugh at one point. Because as we’re approaching Maggotts and Becketts, bear in mind I’m already doing a fair lick, he [Max] just says to me, ‘It’s flat through here.’”
Nicholas admitted he was not ready to take the risk Verstappen suggested at that part of the circuit and responded honestly, sharing his nerves and caution with the driver.
Safe arrival despite pressure highlights team dynamics
The lap ended without incident, much to Nicholas’s relief, as he acknowledged the potential consequences if something had gone wrong before the competitive season even started. The experience illustrated the hidden tensions behind the scenes and the delicate balance between speed and safety on filming days that serve as preparation for the demanding F1 calendar.
“Anyway, we all made it round the lap safely. Which is good, because I would not have wanted to explain to health and safety why a pretty key member of the team was injured before the season starts!”
What this reveals about the pressures behind Max Verstappen Silverstone hot lap
This story sheds light on the unusual stress placed on team members during pre-season activities, even those that seem routine. The combined urging of Verstappen’s competitive edge and the cautious oversight from the race engineer created a tense environment, emphasizing how serious every moment at a track like Silverstone can feel. Understanding this behind-the-scenes dynamic offers fans insight into how the team prepares mentally and mechanically for the high stakes of a Formula 1 season.
