Max Verstappen “can’t be arsed” to do F1 track walks

Max Verstappen

Verstappen “can’t be arsed” to do F1 track walks

Dutch driver would prefer a few minutes more in bed

Ian Parkes & Will Gray

Thursday 3 June 2021 12:20 Updated: 12:25

Max Verstappen has revealed he has not taken part in a track walk ahead of any F1 race weekend since 2017 because he would rather spend a “few more minutes in bed".

The Dutch driver, who is currently leading the world championship, believes the pre-race ritual that most other drivers religiously take part in to glean information about the track condition before getting in their cars, is unimportant.

Verstappen revealed: “I can’t be arsed to walk. [I] Have a few more minutes in bed, and if I want to know the track I will drive my out lap a bit slower, look around, you know. Everyone has a different approach.

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“At one point I was, like, I can’t be arsed to walk anymore to see it. I know the track is going left and right at one point. You have your markers in FP1 and throughout the laps, you will see where you have to go.”

Alpine's Ocon gives Verstappen a few pointers

Verstappen made the revelation ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where many drivers, including his press conference partner Esteban Ocon, had already spent time checking out the street circuit.

Most drivers prepare before travelling to the track by undertaking runs in their teams’ simulators, which helps them to develop the set-up of the car ahead of the event but does not necessarily provide an accurate representation of conditions.

Ocon explained: “There are things you cannot simulate. I have been around the track, seen how dirty it is at the moment, and this is something you cannot see in the simulator.

“Also, there are some kerbs that are missing at the moment, which are different, some lines which are not in the same place, so there are a few things you need to have a look to be sure and that it is exactly as you expected it.

“Otherwise it would be a surprise when you get in the car, which is not a good thing. I tend to always do the track walk. Sometimes you don’t learn much but sometimes you do, and the times that you do are the ones that count.”

Verstappen, however, dismissed the necessity of the activity and quipped: “Esteban just told me a few things about the track, it’s a bit dirty, so I will brake a few metres earlier on the first lap."