Max Verstappen reveals unique value of new Red Bull team-mate

Verstappen talking to George Russell — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull

Verstappen reveals unique value of new Red Bull team-mate

The new simulator and development driver has a handy trick up his sleeve

Ewan Gale

Saturday 3 September 2022 09:10

Max Verstappen has revealed the unique qualities being brought to Red Bull by new simulator and development driver Rudy van Buren.

The Dutchman began his career karting before switching to sim racing, becoming the inaugural victor of the McLaren-backed 'World's Fastest Gamer' competition.

That resulted in Van Buren spending time in the team's simulator before switching his focus back to the race track and forging a career in the Porsche sportscar series as well as helping Pirelli during its F1 Hot Lap stints during race weekends.

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Van Buren's has also continued his sim racing ventures by becoming team-mates with Verstappen at Team Redline.

Ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, van Buren was announced as the new sim and development driver for the current championship leaders.

Via Twitter, he said: "Red Bull sim test & dev driver. After doing some days in the past years it’s time to scale it up!

"A new and exciting route for me [in] 2023 and onwards. More sim work at one of the coolest workplaces I can possibly think of! Don’t worry, I’ll still be racing myself."

Asked for his thoughts on the appointment, F1 championship leader Verstappen said: "I know Rudy, already for a long time.

"Of course, we also do our sim racing together in the same team with Team Redline.

"So already there, you know, we basically build up a good bond, and he's been doing it for a while unofficially, already in the simulator.

"And yeah, we do talk about stuff.

"Of course, during a race weekend a little bit less, because sometimes he's busy as well, and you just focus on your own jobs."

On the value Van Buren brings to the team, Verstappen added: "I explained my feelings of what I need from the car.

"What is really good about Rudy, everyone has their own driving style in his simulator or in real life as well, but he can also put himself in someone else's driving style and knows what that person particularly needs from the car.

"And I think that's why he's such big value as well on the simulator."