Authentic Racer
Max Verstappen, current Formula 1 World Champion, competing at a recent 4-hour race at the Nürburging, is a refreshing example of an authentic racer.
Why do modern racing drivers ONLY compete in their self-designated series? It’s a choice. They choose to view their capacity as limited to only driving one type of car, one that requires their singular attention.
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport technology and talent. The best machines driven by the best racing drivers.
But any of the most recent F1 champions, including the most dominant ones, have chosen to limit themselves to racing only in F1 while still active in the sport. Why?
The exception began most recently with Fernando Alonso, albeit in a very limited capacity. One might say, “Well, the drivers have contracts that limit what else they drive!” So you mean to tell me that extremely desirable, well-paid athletes don’t choose their own contract terms? If Lewis Hamilton told Ferrari that the only way he’d sign with the team was if he was allowed to race whatever else he wanted on a free weekend, would they reject him? I think not.
The world’s most successful drivers, once they have achieved this success, possess the privilege to choose many things, including what they race. Senna, Schumacher, Prost, and Vettel, the drivers to win the most F1 championships in the last four decades, all chose to compete only in F1.
Now, I’m not one to wax poetic on how I wish we could go back to “the way things were,” and I’m all for change, but if you look back to one of the greatest ever, Jim Clark, he embodied what I believe to be one of the most genuine, authentic racing drivers ever.
Jim competed in any and every race he could in any given year, regardless of the format, type of car, or status of the series. He just LOVED racing.
Max Verstappen is our modern-day Jim Clark. Extreme, once-in-a-lifetime talent with an authentic passion for driving racecars. Max has the luxury of adding sim racing to his options, but seeing him race at the Nürburgring made me think that we are witnessing something unique; something that motorsport fans had the opportunity to witness when Jim Clark showed up in 1965 to win the British Formula 2 Championship in the same year that he won his third Formula 1 Championship.
Nothing to prove. No one to impress. Just a love of racing.
Max had a lead of over one minute during his stint at the Nürburging, his fastest lap only 2 seconds off the track record. Some say this was only because of the lack of real competition, but I say, who cares? Max even admitted he wasn’t taking any unnecessary risks and wasn’t driving at his maximum potential.
As motorsport fans, we were afforded the opportunity to watch an authentic racer, competing in just another race, simply because he loves to race cars.
I, for one, would appreciate it if more professional racing drivers, especially F1 drivers, chose to be authentic racers, but that is ultimately their choice.
For now, appreciate the opportunity to watch one of the most talented and authentic racers.
Here is a link to Max’s fastest lap during the race. Just watch his body language and driving style; he’s driving at a minimal amount of his capacity, and it’s still amazing to watch.