Original subtitles

Yeah, I need to practise a little bit with the traffic, the aero wash, in the Bus Stop.

Because in our practice server I had the LMDh in front and I just spun off.

It's a hobby.

It's also just really fun to do. It's a little bit less physical, of course.

There are no g-forces, but it's still very intense.

I want to do the best I can, but it also makes me forget about F1.

Which is good, because it just relaxes your mind a lot.

Max, you are a three-time world champion. That's absolutely unbelievable.

Very lovely.

People sometimes ask me: what do you do in your free time?

They expect you to be something completely different to anyone else.

This is going to be a disaster.

Gianni. Focus, man. You damaged the car.

I think my life off-track is very normal. Nice and simple.

The car felt fine in the Bus Stop, but you could just move the brake bias a bit forward, right?

For me gaming is also a hobby. When you are, of course, already racing so much with F1...

when you come home, it's a way for me also to relax a bit.

That I don't really need to think about anything else in life when I'm in my simulator.

He was in it already when he was very young.

When he was three, he was playing MotoGP games.

And sometimes I said: Max, now you have to stop. Go play outside, or whatever.

Because he was so focused. He was always on the PlayStation.

But basically it hasn't changed, has it?

I like games in general. I mean, some people love to be outside and be more active outside.

Of course, I was doing that with go-karting, and race some quad bikes, stuff like that.

But sometimes in the evening when I would come home I would also like to game a little bit.

Initially on the controller, then a steering wheel, a whole setup.

It gets more and more professional, of course.

A look from up above at the Daytona International Speedway.

What a fantastic track it is. Qualifying underway right now.

Good luck, Max. -You too.

Don't fuck it up. -You shut the fuck up, Gianni.

Hey, I'm just telling you what they told me.

I remember when I first told my friends about it. They didn't believe me.

They were like: 'There's no way. Maybe that's not him. It's someone under his name.'

But then I started to show them pictures. This guy, that's him. And then they started to believe it.

Say hello, of course, to multiple times Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen.

And, of course, an integral part of the furniture now, at this point, of Team Redline.

He's breathing racing, in a way. Like, he can jump in any car and he's fast.

What you cannot expect from a Formula 1 driver is that he's so fully dedicated to sim racing.

But he wants it so much. He had races where he did 50 hours of practice.

And then he did the race and he completely destroyed the field.

And those were the best drivers in the world. So we know that when he has the time...

to prepare, he is actually in the top three of the world. Yeah, that's quite nice to work with.

Early doors in, this day is going to be brutal.

It's not a game. It's the realest e-sport that you can get.

You sit in the sim, you have your pedals, you have your wheel, you have...

I mean, it doesn't get more real than that. It's not a game.

People always say that they don't understand. They can just stay away.

If you're not interested, don't say anything stupid about it.

Like, whatever. It's okay. Have a drink.

We are going to be joined today by a lot of amazing people.

We've got our finalists from all over the world with us today.

And, of course, Max Verstappen himself for one very important final.

Are you going to practise? -Absolutely.

I'll start off half a round behind if I don't.

It's quite long. -Eighteen laps.

I should just crash it in the fifth lap. -Press reset and start over.

No, I'm sure damage will be activated.

I don't stand a chance. It's going to be a disaster.

If it was iRacing, I might have had a chance.

I would have definitely had a chance. But not with this F1 game.

I mean, I barely have enough time to drive this, so to implement even more games is just...

nearly impossible.

I mean, I can't lie about it.

'I spent 100 hours practising.' I'll look like an idiot.

How are you, mate? -Look up.

Oh hello, Max.

What is the fastest line through the... -Inside, outside.

Just send it. -They see him as a very famous top guy.

But when you are with him, it's like talking to a very good friend.

Am I using any DRS or battery shit?

DRS is here.

Where does it open, the DRS? -On the top left.

Ah, it's here.

He comes in, first thing, spins. And he was like: 'Guys, what do I need to do?'

And we told him, and he didn't do it. And we were like: Come on.

What a rubbish turn.

What the fuck... -You have to cut to the inside.

You have to go in super tight. Don't go fully to the outside.

It's more like a V-shape. -It's like a centre.

Fuck... This little shit slide.

The thing is, he knows he's good. He knows that.

The reason we sometimes have to tell him twice or three times...

is because he just expects that he has the better idea in that moment.

It takes three or four tries, and then he's like: 'Ah, maybe you guys are right.'

Well, it depends, of course, if it's the right feedback or not, according to me.

I have to tell him in a very passionate way.

No... No, no.

There's also a fourth gear. -What?

Yeah, mate. I use the third. Never the fourth.

Okay. Well, once you guys make up your mind, you tell me what to do.

He talks shit. -Max, Gianni did a 30 and I did 10-4, so I mean...

Well, let's bring in João Piana from Brazil. Big round of applause. Please, guys.

The competition was really cool. There were people who are really good at the game actually.

It's hard to compete with people who spent 1,000 hours on their own game.

He has like 30 minutes. -Oh my God, the understeer.

So what line here?

A friend of mine, another finalist from the local final...

gave me this piece of Max Verstappen's suit.

He got it from a fan club and now I bring it with me for good luck.

This is going to be a disaster.

He's impossible to beat. It's like putting a rookie in an F1 car next to me.

This man is a three-time world champion Team Oracle Red Bull Racing driver.

He loves his tomato soup. If we can invite him and get a massive round of applause...

for Max Verstappen. -Big round of applause please, everybody.

Hello, mate. Are you alright? -Welcome, hi.

It's great to be here. I practised a whole twenty minutes, so it's going to be fantastic.

How does it feel competing next to Max? -I'm pretty much just enjoying the moment.

Of course, it was hard to believe that I would be racing against Max.

Now he's right there sitting next to me. It still feels unreal to me. Yeah...

It's amazing.

Hey, Max.

I'm doing great, and you?

It's working. I can hear you.

Sim racing is a niche world. It's very small.

You have the bigger games like Gran Turismo, that has a lot of users.

But the competitions are a bit smaller.

And then you have F1 Esports, which is huge because it gets pushed by F1 itself.

So it is big. But the sim racing part itself...

like iRacing, the things that Max does, for example, it's a very small community...

but the level there is so incredibly high.

The biggest sim race of the year is on the cards and well...

Gianni, are you jumping in? -Yes.

Now, please. Well... Long race. Stay out of trouble.

Most of them are also endurance events, so you have to share the car with other people...

which I also find quite enjoyable.

The car you cannot change. You can only add fuel and change tires during the race.

So everything needs to be perfectly set before the race starts.

I can only see the setup from Max Verstappen. That's the only thing I can see.

Yeah, it's fine. It's good.

People sometimes don't really understand that, because they see us doing the race and are like:

'Looks so easy for them.' They don't see what we do the three to four weeks prior to that.

You never have enough time to test it all to 100%, but you try to, of course. Yeah.

Get it as close to perfection as possible.

And we're ready to go for the biggest sim race of the year.

It's the iRacing Daytona 24 Hours. Extra stakes on the line.

Spots in the 2024 Indy Sports Car World Championship.

And we'll see a crash before the GTP is even...

Should I go up? -Yeah, go with him.

It's a mental top sport. You have to be super unique...

in the mental capacity to be able to win the biggest race in sim racing.

Oh boy, oh boy...

Try to be a bit closer, mate. -I'm trying, I'm trying.

Even if it costs more fuel, I don't give a fuck. -I'm trying.

Deliver a lap time, and then on top of that, you need to do it under full stress.

You sit there and your leg starts shaking. You feel like: If I mess up now...

it's going to cost me 10K in prize money. That's a horrible feeling.

Some drivers can handle that much better than the others.

Of course, we lose some tenths.

Gianni, just focus. Stop complaining, it's a long race. Come on.

When you make a mistake, it's on you. Worst feeling ever.

Gianni, are you fucking blind? -What should I do there?

No, it was a little bit of a drive. It was a bit of a drive. It's okay, it's fine.

I'll be back in a second, guys. I'm going to make some food quickly.

I drive myself for Team Redline. Luckily everyone is very good at their job.

You trust each other a lot. But it's not only just the driving part...

but in the background there are more things to look at.

You go straight ahead and then turn right.

Special entrance. -Yeah, here to the right.

I like to be involved, you know, and see what's happening day to day.

Ladies first, Raymond.

This is where some of the magic happens. This is basically where I work every day.

We have a few drivers here full time, plus management, marketing.

One of my tasks is to make sure that we have such an attractive team for the drivers...

to make sure that they want to be in Team Redline. And I think that's our unique selling position.

We obviously have Max as a great ambassador. He's very inspiring for everyone in the team.

So it's an honour to work with a driver like Max.

This is going to be my new rig for in my motorhome once it's ready.

Fuck me, this thing is massive. It's really big.

You can use it as a... You can play iRacing on this if you want?

I met Atze during my F3 season.

I was driving for Van Amersfoort. Of course, you also spend time on the simulator preparing.

I think, back in the day, my engineer there, Rick said:

'We have this really good simulator guy who comes and practises.

He's done it before with other drivers for us.'

In the beginning it was mainly to drive with me, to train.

We did a lot of one-on-one training in iRacing where we practised overtaking on certain tracks.

iRacing had the laser scan version of Spa-Francorchamps.

But that was more for fun that we tried it on the simulator with the F1 cars at the time.

See what kind of angles that you could overtake.

And of course we also crashed in the Blanchimont, just touching each other.

Normally that's not a corner where you would consider overtaking.

In the sim it's a bit easier.

The F1 cars that we had in the game, they were a bit slower in terms of top speed...

and a bit more downforce. So when I went for the move in real life...

I had more top speed and less downforce, so the car was moving around a little bit more.

I heard of that story, but that was afterwards. But I knew, when he was side by side...

that he would not give up. But I didn't know at that time, when it happened...

that he had already practised that on the sim.

Yeah, it was fun. At the time, I enjoyed it a lot.

I don't think your dad enjoyed it. -No, no one. Helmut came straight after the race.

He told me: 'Never do that again.' I said: What do you mean? I passed him, it's okay.

Now I understand why.

At that point... I mean, I was seventeen, I think. I was like: I'm going for it.

I probably wouldn't do it now. No.

No, really? -No. It's not worth the risk of doing it.

I would have easily maybe passed him in the next corner, or whatever.

But at the time I was like, I don't care, I'll show everyone that it's possible.

Now the other drivers find their way into the marks, instantly up on the Jackson.

And now with Steinbraten out, as expected, it's Max Verstappen who gets in the car.

Yeah, Max Verstappen on board the Team Redline Mercedes.

Max Verstappen gets on board a Mercedes. There's a clickbait for you.

You're still thinking about the same kind of things. How can I put the setup...

you go through all these ranges, you're working on strategy...

you're defending, of course, overtakings, you're doing starts, you know.

There's a lot of what you do in F1 that comes back.

So I always feel that when I jump back in an F1 car that it just feels normal.

It's going to rain on Saturday and Sunday. -Then I'll just go home now.

I'm going to ring Helmut and say I won't drive like this.

The weather in Monaco is great at the moment. 30... 35 degrees.

You know what I would like right now? A kebab.

That would be so good. -Not a 'frikandel'?

Turkish kebab. So good.

Right?

Should we stop for it? -I love it. I think it's honestly my favourite...

If you would tell me: 'You're on an island, you have your last meal. What would it be?'

Turkish kebab. -A kebab would definitely be included.

Hat.

Let's take this sticker off.

My goodness.

Last year, Max told us: 'So guys, you want to come to Zandvoort?'

For them to be part of that F1 paddock...

and see everything, see the other teams, see the other drivers.

And we were like, we won't say no to that.

Lovely. Lovely.

Seeing what we saw at Zandvoort... First of all, the car. Insane.

Really crazy. Just seeing that thing...

I mean, that was really the first time I got so close to a car.

It's crazy.

Mate, that is sick.

Ah, mates... The smell.

Come on, mates. Put the gear in. Jesus Christ, it's not that hard.

What is the difference? -37 seconds. We're losing a lot of time now.

I think, adjust, like, slow down. I mean...

Why? No, we do over the night. We just get it back with a 33-lapper. It's fine.

We shouldn't give up five seconds. It's stupid to give away five seconds.

Yeah, Max is right.

He is an inspiration for the guys, because what he does on the real track...

and what he says, he actually lives up to it.

He likes to get into your head. The effect he has on drivers is...

Once he pops up behind you in your mirrors, then you know you're screwed.

So the Stormforce car is going to be left on its own here.

Max Verstappen is going to go through. Careful, Drago Racing...

They've just found a gap up on the high side there. It does go to three and four.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

I can't watch others. I hate that. Even if it's him.

I mean, I know he's good. I know it. But, there's a big but. Sorry, Max. But it's true.

He sometimes takes risks that others wouldn't take.

And the main thing is, while he's doing that, he can talk about doing groceries...

or talk about his new monitor or pedals, and meanwhile he's driving the best laps...

out of everyone.

Should we pit in for softs? -No, we put the hard...

Plan D. -Plan C or D.

What is plan C?

Norris, 25.0.

25.0 for Max as well.

Those moments when you need to be focused as a driver.

You need to have some balls to brake at the very, very last moment. I mean, it's your life.

He will reach a peak of 6 g. Your eyes are popping out almost. It's ridiculous.

You cannot really simulate that.

Three tenths...

Let's go. Let's go.

Let's go.

Yes, please.

Take me out, take me out. -Yes, yes.

My fucking legs. -Good job, guys. Good job.

Good job, Max. -You too, mate. That was very good.

What time do I need to be back? -4.53.

Fuck.

Okay. I'll be... I'm going to go and have a little nap then.

Enjoy. -All right, ciao.

They're a bit close, they're inside of Marc here.

Floris did great, he came before Max.

Still close, wheel to wheel.

Marc's not backing off, closing closer and closer to Max...

as he fakes the outside and goes down the inside, fakes the inside line...

and Max is going to have to tuck back in.

Not bad. I wouldn't say that I'm the outright fastest, I think...

in terms of qualifying pace or whatever, but I don't think that's realistic as well.

Because that's their job. That's what they have to do, that's their profession.

Every day or every week, they have a certain amount of hours that they drive.

And, of course, I unfortunately can't do that because of the F1 and other stuff in life.

He called Max out. Thirteen, into fourteen.

He's feeling very good himself. If we can get a massive round of applause for Floris Wijers...

for winning the Heineken Player 0.0 International event.

What an absolute winner. Max Verstappen, P3. Crossing the line.

And right behind him, with an amazing battle, Marc-Antoine from Canada.

Some absolutely amazing racing.

Warm.

The Heineken Player 0.0 International champion:

Mr Floris Wijers.

I do feel that people with a lot of talent in the simulator world...

most of them don't really have an opportunity in real life to show that.

Or at least that we find out how good they actually are in a real car.

So that is also of course something that I'm looking at, how we can make that work...

in the future.

Well, hello there, everyone, once again. Delighted to be back here...

to the end of the iRacing Daytona 24 Hours, first of our grand slams for 2024.

I'm sure plenty people are here to support Max Verstappen...

in that number 4 Redline car that just continues to linger at the very front of the field.

But I'm sure there's plenty of other people supporting other teams and driving through.

Morning. -Good morning.

I feel so tired. -I did four hours in a row...

slept for twenty minutes, then went again. And Gianni's complaining about sleep.

Max is incredibly driven for result.

Are you going in front, Max? Or what?

I think it's faster if you go in front. If I do it, I will bump you.

He keeps pushing us insanely hard.

I was expecting the Japanese guy to flat-out go for it, but...

Gianni, focus on the driving.

Obviously when Max talks in a firm way, then everyone listens and everyone is impressed.

Gianni... You should lift. You're so stupid, it's unbelievable.

I lifted so much. -No, you damaged the car.

Fucking focus, man. You damaged the car.

I didn't. -You did. I could see it.

If he could race as he talks, I think he would win by one lap ahead of everyone else.

My God, mate... -It's not. It's nothing.

I don't know what you're on about. -It's your fault that you hit that car...

because you're just not focused. Come on. -Relax, relax.

No. I mean, he's a great guy. He's good. Sometimes a little bit dramatic.

But that's okay. We can deal with that. And he's always done great...

whenever we really needed him to do well. And I think that's also a quality...

that we're looking for in a driver.

Was it okay? -Yeah, it went well. But it was very slippery...

because of the new tarmac everywhere. In the first turn and the last sector.

How's it going? -Good.

Congrats, mate. -Thanks.

Sim racers are very used to being at home.

It's not like any other sport where you need to be together.

We talk a lot online. You never really see them face to face.

Of course, when you're in a meeting, cameras are on, or whatever.

But it's not as personal as in real life.

Don't do the fake braking on the Bus Stop in the last lap, please.

And there are many examples where he was on track...

and then he brings his laptop with his controller and he's driving on his controller...

in his off-time on the race track in Formula 1, to help the guys in the sim team make a setup.

That's how he is. And that's what you don't see on TV.

But the guy is pushing through every wall just to help his racing family.

Yeah, we got an exit. -Go to the finish line, go to the finish line.

Come next to me.

Team Redline, one in three. But Max Verstappen, Gianni Vecchio...

and Ole Steinbraten are now winners of the biggest sim race of the year.

Bravo, guys. Bravo.

Can I blow up the car? -You can blow it up, yes.

You still get the same emotions. For me, at least.

At the end of the day, it's the same. Because I celebrate in the car with my helmet on.

I'm celebrating with myself. And then, of course, you go to the people.

But that's fine. I mean, the people are in your pc, more or less.

Good job, ragazzi.

Smoked the pancake.