In recent years, sim racing has become a significant part of motor racing. Anyone aspiring to a future in motorsport would do well to start in a simulator. Max Verstappen has been committed to preparing sim racing talent for the real asphalt for some time now. Moreover, he himself is an avid sim racer. Former driver Johnny Herbert, usually a critical voice towards Verstappen, admits that the simulator now plays a crucial role.
Modern simulators can replicate existing circuits down to the smallest details, which helps inexperienced drivers prepare for real race weekends. Verstappen, who is part of Team Redline and has been advocating the importance of sim racing for years, recently promoted a sim racer to his own GT3 team. Last year, he said that he dared to make some daring overtakes in his debut season in Formula 1 because he had practiced them in the simulator.
Powerful Tool
Herbert is also convinced now. “I almost don’t dare to admit it, but I never thought a simulator would be so powerful,” the Brit declared to betting website Thunderpick. “It opens up new dimensions within racing and trains certain brain functions. The times I’ve driven in a simulator, I felt a kind of numbness that is inherent to a video game. But that numbness can also occur in reality. Sometimes a car doesn’t give you the right feeling, but by gaming and sim racing, you can handle it better.”
Herbert then explained that Verstappen benefits from his years of experience in the simulator. “Because Max has been doing it for so long, it’s just ingrained,” he continued. “He doesn’t have to think about anything anymore; it’s purely instinctive. That gives a slight advantage, but every marginal gain is important. It’s true that this world has absolutely become a significant part of the real world – and it really works. Sim racing is a powerful tool that has proven to be extremely useful. All young drivers who aren’t doing it yet: listen carefully, you need to do it, or you’ll lose!”
