Fans of Formula 1 probably fancy themselves as a driver, but how long would a normal person last if allowed to drive one in reality?
Drivers in e-sports championships have shown that it is possible to make the transition from virtual to reality, including Max Esterson who currently races in Formula 3 and William Byron in NASCAR.
Max Verstappen also does sim racing, with F1 legend Gerhard Berger attributing the Dutchman’s sim-racing sessions to the reason why he is so successful.
The question of whether a fan could drive a car with next to no experience is always something that quizzes people watching F1, considering they simply get in the car and turn a wheel for two hours every Sunday.
The reality is that it takes much more to succeed in F1, with Verstappen’s former physio revealing what he once told him when he asked about whether a normal person could drive one of the cars when speaking on The Business of Winning podcast.
Max Verstappen thinks a normal person would stand ‘no chance’ driving an F1 car
F1 cars are unique compared to road cars, in that they need to be driven fast to maximise their potential. If you drive too slow you will rely heavily on the mechanical grip, which can be cumbersome.
The cars also produce close to 1,000bhp which is much more than any supercar on the road, with only a Bugatti Chiron getting close to the performance levels.
Bradley Scanes, who worked alongside Verstappen for four years at Red Bull as his physio, reveals what he once told him when he asked if he could drive the car.
“I remember talking to Max about it. He said ‘As soon as I sit in that car, as soon as you even touch the accelerator pedal, you’re straight into the wall’” said Scanes.
“Maybe you could get into a GT3 car and do something there. But the speed those cars go at, you wouldn’t be able to do it. You trained as a fighter pilot now, that’s the sort of G-Forces you’re dealing with.”
The F1 team that offers the public a chance to drive one of their cars… At a cost
When F1 first started it was effectively an ‘arrive and drive’ situation for drivers, with those who were wealthy enough to participate.
Nowadays, drivers must obtain a Super Licence from the FIA to compete in the championship which has strict criteria including being at least 18 years old and having accumulated points throughout a racing career.
But fans don’t need to wish away their dreams of driving a car in the future, if they have the money to pay for it. Alpine offers a package that allows anyone to drive their Lotus E20 from the 2012 season, which was used by Kimi Raikkonen to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The F1 driving experience at the Winfield Racing School at Paul Ricard will set any punter back by £10,000 to complete at least 3.8km in the car.
Leave feedback about this