Max Verstappen Shares Surprising Tips for Aspiring F1 Drivers

Max Verstappen urges aspiring drivers to prioritise simulators over go-karts, speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast alongside Gabriel Bortoleto.

Asked to choose between 300 days in a kart or a simulator, Verstappen’s answer is blunt: “Forget the go-kart.”

He argues modern simulators, including home systems, mirror race car behaviour more closely than karting’s fundamentals.

Verstappen outlines key differences. Karts demand controlled sliding from a solid rear axle, keeping the chassis free through the corner.

Race cars invert that logic. Drivers must plant the rear, then extract front-end bite to rotate the car efficiently.

He accepts karting’s value for starts, racecraft, and spatial awareness. But he says it diverges from how real cars are driven.

Verstappen hasn’t driven a go-kart since 2016, preferring GT tests and extensive simulator running for F1 preparation in the Netherlands.

The implication is a shift in emphasis. Simulator time offers repeatable scenarios, rich telemetry, and cost control compared to international karting campaigns.

There are caveats. Karting still builds race instincts early, while career pathways and scouting continue to value karting pedigrees.

Simulators don’t replace the need for real-world progression, but they can accelerate learning alongside junior formulas.

Verstappen’s comments land amid a tight 2025 title fight. Lando Norris leads on 390 points, with Oscar Piastri on 366 and Verstappen on 341.

The calendar heads to the Mexican Grand Prix on October 26, then Abu Dhabi on December 7.

A simulator-led approach could refine setup understanding and race execution for those closing stages.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.