The Dutch driver breaks with convention and points to the simulator as the new entry route into motorsport. It is a view that could transform how young talents are trained and potentially make Formula 1 more accessible.
“A piece of advice I can give to aspiring drivers? Invest in a simulator rather than continuing with karting,” was the suggestion made not by just any racer, but by the most recognizable face of modern Formula 1.
Indeed, Max Verstappen — the four-time world champion known not only for his exceptional results on track but also for his choice to train extensively with a simulator and compete in numerous sim-racing events — offered his perspective on a discipline that has gained significant popularity among motorsport fans in recent years.
During a recent appearance on the Brazilian podcast Pelas Pistas, the Dutch driver discussed the development path a young child should follow if they dream of becoming a professional racing driver. When Max was asked to choose between 300 days of karting and 300 days on a simulator, his reply may have surprised some listeners.
“Forget karting,” the reigning world champion responded. His words seem to challenge a long-established development model in which karting is considered essential. Talent scouts travel from event to event looking for the next promising youngster, and every current Formula 1 driver — and many outside the series — began their journey in these small machines.
However, considering the immense technological progress of the past decade, Max Verstappen may have anticipated a major shift, one that could — viewed optimistically — offer more opportunities to those who truly deserve them.
Max Verstappen: “I’ll explain why I think this way”
“When you grow up playing football, from childhood you use a ball that never changes. That is the problem in our sport. For us, a kart is not the same as a racing car. Of course, you learn the basics of racing because you start defending, overtaking. But a kart does not drive like a car.”
“You already sit in a completely different position, you have suspension. With a kart, you always have to slide it because of the axle; it always needs to be free, and you need to slide it. A car is the opposite, because for me the rear of the car always needs to be glued to the track, and then you try to create as much front grip as possible. The whole driving dynamic is very different. I would always say to do karting for fun, but not as real training,” the Red Bull driver continued.
“I think karting is a great way for kids to learn, but at some point you need to move forward. Personally, I haven’t driven a kart since 2016. I enjoy driving a GT car far more, racing in GT categories, or staying at home on my simulator preparing for Formula 1.”
Why this new scenario could create more opportunities
In a world increasingly shaped by technology, it was inevitable that motorsport would evolve too. Formula 1 teams — and many others — invest enormous sums to make simulators as realistic as possible, and only they know how thin the line between virtual and real racing has become.
This is where Max Verstappen’s example becomes revolutionary: it could pave the way for a generation of drivers born into the digital era, raised with virtual steering wheels and laser-scanned circuits. A path that, unlike traditional karting, would not require prohibitively high costs.
Technology could finally do something motorsport has rarely achieved — open doors instead of closing them. And perhaps, in the future, the next talent destined for Formula 1 will not be discovered on a dusty provincial kart track, but in front of a screen, following a dream that is no longer too expensive to pursue.
Leave a Reply