F1 simulator in Verstappen’s private jet: He can train for so many extra hours

Max Verstappen leaves nothing to chance. The Dutch Formula 1 driver has reportedly installed a racing simulator on his private jet to brush up on his track knowledge in the air. How many extra hours does this add to the training schedule?

Have you already looked at the 2023 Formula 1 calendar? Instead of on the Le Castellet race track, where Verstappen won the French Grand Prix in 2022, the cars are racing across the Las Vegas Strip for the first time this year. And despite previous reports of a Portuguese alternative, there will be no replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix, which has been off the track for the fourth straight year.

racing simulator

In other words: Formula 1 drivers will use their time in the racing simulator wisely. And to stay one step ahead of the competition, Max Verstappen has reportedly found nothing better than having a virtual cockpit installed in his Dassault Falcon 900EX, a private jet worth around 15 million euros.

Verstappen’s jet has just taken off!

🛫Loxwood, England, UK 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/CU72vDXg7Y

— Max Verstappen’s jet 🛩 (@VerstappenJet) January 25, 2023

In any case, the interior will be even more unique than the most luxurious birds flying over the earth.

Max Verstappen and his private jet

In an interview with the German sports1 Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko sheds light on the remarkable choice of the Dutch Formula 1 hero.

“Verstappen has had his private jet converted so that he can fly around with a simulator in the future. That’s a good thing, too, because Max needs this distraction. In any case, it didn’t do him any harm if you look at his two world championships.”

Max Verstappen is also a passionate eSportsman. He often makes appearances at virtual races, although the LeMans circuit is unlikely to be part of his training schedule after he quit in anger two weeks ago. Check out all the virtual races he has competed in on his Twitch channel.

Then train on tracks that are part of the Formula 1 program. Hopefully Verstappen will not blame the racing simulator manufacturer in the event of a loss.

Additional training hours for the Formula 1 season

With Formula 1 teams spending almost as much time in the air as on the ground, making use of that lost time is certainly not a bad idea.

The 2023 Formula 1 calendar is amazing:

• 23 races
• 20 countries
• 5 continents
• 240 flight hours

The teams will travel 75,000 miles and transport 1,500 tons of equipment.

That makes it a logistical nightmare, so here’s a breakdown of how Formula 1 pulls it off.

THREAD 👇 pic.twitter.com/ayv1lwZ7jA

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 21, 2023

With no less than 240 (!) hours of additional training compared to Formula 1 competition, Max Verstappen must win the coming season. Otherwise, ViaPlay’s price hikes are even more painful.