Max Verstappen has revealed the struggles he’s been having getting used to the Las Vegas Grand Prix layout, with him having spent more time crashing into the walls than going straight on the F1 23 video game.
Next weekend is the highly anticipated return of Las Vegas, which hasn’t hosted an F1 race since 1982.
It’s perhaps set to rival the Monaco Grand Prix in terms of glitz and glamour, especially with part of the circuit being on the world-famous Vegas Strip.
Nobody knows what to expect from the first race in Vegas for just over 40 years, with Verstappen having admitted after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix that at least Red Bull have a “lot to do” in terms of preparations.
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He revealed in Sao Paulo that he was still unsure of the track layout, whilst he’d also had considerable bad luck whilst testing the track on the official F1 game,
“There’s still a lot to do,” Verstappen said after winning in Brazil, as reported by Sky Sports F1.
“I still need to go on the simulator. I still don’t even know the track, to be honest.
“The last time I tried it on the F1 game, I think I hit more walls than I was going straight. So, let’s hope that’s not the case when I start driving there!”
A lot is riding on the Las Vegas GP for F1, given that the sport is promoting the event themselves.
It’s already been revealed that hospitality worker strikes could cause chaos in Vegas next weekend, with it supposedly set to be one of the biggest strikes in the history of the United States.
To add to the woes, the temperature is expected to plummet to potentially below 10 degrees Celsius in the evening, when the cars are on circuit.
This could turn the track into an ice rink, convincing Verstappen that the race could give fans a “few surprises”.
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“It’s going to be very different to here, very low temperatures, of course in the night there,” Verstappen said.
“It’s a street circuit, we have no experience there, we don’t know the track grip.
“All new – so maybe it will give you a few surprises. I don’t know.”