Former Max Verstappen trainer reveals unique action ahead of F1 test

Max Verstappen created a 'unique' simulator layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit ahead of the inaugural Saudi Arabian GP to try and steal a march on rival Lewis Hamilton, his former trainer has revealed.

Verstappen headed to F1's first Saudi GP in 2021 with a chance of becoming world champion for the first time if he out-scored Hamilton by 18 points, but usual preparation for a new grand prix was delayed owing to the late completion of the track.

This meant simulator runs for drivers were not possible, but Verstappen's former trainer Bradley Scanes has explained how the Dutchman had a personalised version of the track created so he could practice.

"Max often gets branded as this natural talent, but there's a reason why he goes out in FP1 and sets purple after purple after purple [sectors], whilst other drivers set up," Scanes told the High Performance Podcast.

"It is because he's been practicing the track for hours and hours in the week leading up to the race.

"The first year that we went to Saudi Arabia [in 2021], is that nobody could get a handle on that circuit for FP1, and Max just kept going purple, purple, purple, and it is a difficult track. 

"Red Bull didn't even have the simulator version of the track in their simulator, and Max had managed to find someone online to build out what the track looked like to put into his own simulator. 

"This is sort of the work ethic, the differences that make champions. 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 could see the pace when he first set off.

"Actually, his qualifying lap before he pinged the wall [in Q3] could have probably gone down as one of the greatest ever."