Verstappen ‘enjoys’ Honda event: ‘I hope you enjoy how we acted like idiots’

The Wednesday before the Japan Grand Prix is ​​a busy media day for Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App RB drivers. Honorable men are expected at the circuit on Thursday due to media duties, but the Honda engine supplier band offers additional events for Max Verstappen, among others.

After those gentlemen are already called for F1 Tokyo Festival, he also stood up Honda Japan GP 2024 Welcome Session still on the program of Verstappen, Sergio Pérez, Yuki Tsunoda, and Daniel Ricciardo. The event began with more serious questions. “We’ve really changed the concept of the car,” Pérez says when asked. ‘Ultimately, in terms of driving, it feels the same as last year.’

Competition is breathing down your neck

Pérez believes that this year will be even more exciting than 2023, when Red Bull won 21 out of 22 Grands Prix. ‘Other teams have closed the gap. You often see, especially in qualifying, that everyone is within half a tenth. So one or two tenths can make a big difference in the characteristics, “the Mexican realizes. “That applies not only to the qualifying sessions, but also during the race. I enjoy the way we are doing now, but it will also be good to see how we do on a completely different track, like Suzuka.’

The Mexican further explained that his preparations for the weekend follow many established patterns. ‘When I’m on the track I try to keep a specific routine. Sometimes you have to consider that the schedule may vary slightly, depending on the media’s duties. Therefore it is always difficult to maintain the same order, because in System 1 something is always changing. You try to stick to the things that work well in your preparation.’

Superstition

“I’m not superstitious myself,” says Ricciardo, who wonders further if his teammates are superstitious. “I don’t have lucky underwear,” Verstappen makes it clear, even though the gentlemen think Ricciardo is a superstition. Verstappen looks at Ricciardo quizzically, and Pérez also suspects the Australian. “I’m sure Daniel has a lucky pair of underwear, I think he always wears them.” However, Ricciardo continues to deny: “I wear the same underwear four days in a row, but I’m not superstitious,” laughs the 34-year-old.

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Verstappen does not give up, and shares with the audience: “Daniel has a Spotify playlist while driving,” said the 26-year-old. Ricciardo himself sees that. ‘I would like to be able to listen to music during the race, but the music depends a little on how I qualified. If I have to start from the back, it will probably be the loudest music, because I have to pass people. When I’m in a good place, the music is more calm down‘

Verstappen thanks the circuit

During the event, which is largely held in Japanese, the drivers are asked to take part in a quiz and have to draw the Suzuka circuit on the board. Verstappen concluded the session with a word of thanks to the audience present. “Thank you all for being here. I hope you all enjoyed watching us act like idiots. It’s always nice to be in Japan again,” smiles Verstappen.

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