class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>
Imagine that you are leading a Swiss racing team in the DTM, and one day Max Verstappen (26), the outstanding Formula 1 driver, is in your racing car. Just a motorsport fantasy? Not for Lorenz Frey-Hilti (32). The Zurich resident is a member of the management team of car trading group Emil Frey and team principal of the affiliated racing team, which has been participating in the DTM with Ferrari cars since 2023.
And it is also the team that can count on the most famous test driver in the world. “Max is completely uncomplicated, a down-to-earth, nice guy without any charisma,” Frey-Hilti told Blick. «It is extremely fascinating to watch him at work. After just one or two laps he is up to speed and works extremely precisely. You feel how great his passion for racing is.”
Verstappen was looking for cooperation with a team
Verstappen’s apparently excellent lap times remain a secret. But the team boss also likes to talk about the test days before Christmas in Portugal, when Verstappen was there. The background for the test, which remained discreet: the Formula 1 star also runs his own team called “verstappen.com”.
But because running a racing team with all the bells and whistles would be a bit much for the busy Red Bull driver, a year ago he looked for a partnership with a team where his friend Thierry Vermeulen (21) could race. And found them in Switzerland.
“There are countless GT3 teams. It was a great honor that he asked us. Even though we didn’t really know what was behind the request at first,” says Frey-Hilti. A collaboration with the F1 champion? It sounded surreal at first. But the collaboration with the Dutch is being established, Vermeulen ends his DTM debut year in 16th place overall in his Emil Frey car in Verstappen’s colors and the collaboration will continue in 2024.
“Although Thierry is Max’s friend, he wants to see achievements.”
Frey-Hilti is overwhelmed by its major business partner when it comes to one thing in particular. “I could never have imagined how intensively Max would follow our races,” says the team boss. He has already received videos showing Verstappen watching Vermeulen’s qualifying live just before his own Formula 1 qualifying.
The three-time F1 world champion’s interest in his private project is so great that he has taken to the Swiss GT Ferrari for two test drives so far – and not just for a chat on the track. Frey-Hilti: “Max follows a clear test plan and makes very useful statements to our engineers. Above all, it helps us become faster. Also because he adapts very well to what Thierry needs.” And the Swiss noticed something else: “Thierry is Max’s friend, but he wants to see performances. As a coach he gives him strict and clear instructions.”
Verstappen also enjoys his days at Emil Frey Racing because he can accelerate without the Formula 1 hustle and bustle that often bothers him. This passion is contagious. “He convinced me that I actually drove a few laps myself again,” says ex-driver Frey-Hilti. Did he come close to Verstappen’s times? “Not quite,” he answers, laughing.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
