Kart and F3 experience benefited Verstappen

Third in the last Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, Max Verstappen once again produced a major performance, and what's more, in the rain of Sao Paolo. Without a shifted strategy of Red Bull, the Dutch pilot could have threatened both Mercedes for the first places.

Very comfortable in the wet conditions, despite two scares, one behind Räikkönen before the Finn made a mistake, the other then chasing behind the leader Lewis Hamilton, the Red Bull Racing resident confesses that his past experience has been more than useful to him.

“It comes from the kart and the Formula 3, admits Verstappen. Only the car is a little bigger. I also talk about it a lot with my father and I always try to find other racing lines than the others, especially in the rain. And it worked well. »

Enough to let his Team Principal Chrsitian Horner dare certain comparisons with Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, great specialists in driving in the rain.

During our report in the footsteps of Max Verstappen in 2015 (see Ah n°1999), Frits van Eldik, photographer and close to Verstappen's family, told us an anecdote about the work of the Red Bull driver during his years karting and a session specific to driving in the rain.

“Two turns were enough for Max to understand. This is one of those qualities. He learns quickly and adapts perfectly to changing conditions. » A job that paid off since Verstappen accomplished a real demonstration last Sunday, his overtaking of Nico Rosberg from the outside of the third turn, being moreover nominated for FIA Action of the Year.