Source:REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] Recently, four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen participated in a racing podcast hosted by David Coulthard. During the episode, Verstappen was asked why he can consistently sense the limits of grip yet rarely makes mistakes. In response, Verstappen believes it stems from his experience driving various types of cars from a young age and that he doesn’t always push to the absolute limit of 102%. He further explained his viewpoint, revealing that he has driven all types of cars with engines. Racing different kinds of cars in various environments has conditioned him to instinctively know how to control the car in critical moments. Verstappen pointed out that various driving experiences inform one another. Skills learned in F1 can be applied to GT or prototype racing, while online simulation training has reinforced related muscle memory. This long-term accumulation has made him a more well-rounded driver.
The editor believes the reason Verstappen makes few mistakes lies in his mindset and control of rhythm. Many drivers are always eager to push to the limit and extract 102% of the car’s performance. However, most of the time, Verstappen does not operate this way. He understands that rather than continually overexerting the car, it is better to leave some margin within a controllable range and unleash his full potential at truly critical moments. It is this rhythm management that helps him maintain stability and efficiency in long-distance races.