Charles Leclerc and sim racing: the Monegasque explains the training from an F1 viewpoint. The topic of virtual racing came back into the spotlight after the Hungarian Grand Prix. In Budapest, Max Verstappen raced on the simulator late into the night, right before the Hungarian Grand Prix. This raised some eyebrows at Red Bull, given what happened on the track. But how useful are these kinds of competitions?
Motorsport is not a world that’s easily accessible. Starting a career in one of its branches often requires significant sacrifices, especially from a financial standpoint. The alternative for thousands of enthusiasts around the world comes from the virtual: from common arcade video games to true driving simulators, the options are quite broad.
But as much as simulators can closely replicate (and very much so) the sensations experienced by real drivers on track, how much can they use them to train for races? Charles Leclerc tried to explain this to the journalists during a press conference which took place a few weeks ago: “Simulators are completely different from reality, but I truly believe they can be used for training.” – The Ferrari driver pointed out.
The advantage, according to the Monegasque, lies in the ability to try different cars on various tracks extremely quickly, simply by changing the game settings: “Being able to adapt quickly to different conditions can certainly be helpful, and then going on track to find those last tenths to improve.” – he added.
Sim racing can therefore be a school of versatility for drivers, but the sensations are still far from what is felt on the track: “I don’t think sim racing has yet reached the level where it allows you to gain those tenths. But, as I said, it can be used to adapt quickly to different conditions.” – Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc concluded.
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