Max Verstappen rejects heavy sim work, fears bigger 2026 gap
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
15:01, 24 Jan
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Shayni Solanki joined GPblog in the autumn of 2025 as an NCTJ-qualified motorsport journalist with a degree in History and Classics from the University of Warwick.
Shayni works for TNT Sports/Eurosport covering MotoGP, WEC, WRC, Formula E and Speedway, and has bylines in Motorsport Week, Motor Sport Magazine and Racing Pride. She initially fell in love with motorcycle racing before discovering Formula 1 as a young Ferrari fan.
Max Verstappen reveals his approach to the 2026 Formula 1 season, claiming that he does not like to spend "too much time on a simulator" before the season begins.
The four-time world champion is set to embark on his 12th season in Formula 1 and suggests that he needs time on track to test the new car rather than practice in the simulator.
Verstappen was present alongside the Red Bull team during their 2026 Formula 1 livery launch for the 2025 car, while the real model will be debuted during the pre-season test in Barcelona.
"It's not like you need to learn it right now. You need to go out driving, testing, optimize things."- Max Verstappen
Verstappen said: "Honestly, I mean, yeah, of course you read through it, but a lot of these things have also been decided quite late.
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"I still have a bit of time to fully get on top of this thing. It's not like you need to learn it right now. You need to go out driving, testing, optimize things.
"That's why I never really spend too much time on a simulator before the car even hits the ground."
The Red Bull champion is looking to snatch back a title from McLaren, having been usurped from a fifth championship win last season.
McLaren truly dominated 2025, breaking Verstappen and Red Bull's winning streak ahead of the new regulations.
"The gap will be bigger," Verstappen continued. "That's always been the case when we have new regulations.
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"There will be one team or two teams that are running way better than others. But I hope that then, of course, over time, it might be super close.
"I think, especially with these rules, they seem quite complicated, so it's not going to be easy for everyone to get on that straightaway."
Max Verstappen at the Barcelona circuit - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
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Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 12.06.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Practice 2
03:00 PM
Saturday 13.06.26
Practice 3
10:30 AM
Qualification
02:00 PM
Sunday 14.06.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 12.06.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 13.06.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
Sat 02:00 PM
Sunday 14.06.26
Race
Sun 01:00 PM
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