How do you make a private jet even more cool? Install a state-of-the-art Formula 1 simulator on it.
That's what Max Verstappen has done with his Falcon-900EX plane, believed to be worth more than £10m. But, as Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has explained, the reasons behind the latest addition to his jet go way beyond simply having a new toy to play with.
Verstappen loves his racing, whether it be in real life on a proper track or on a computer. The Dutchman is a big fan of sim racing and recently took part in the virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans – not that he enjoyed himself much on that occasion.
Referencing the Red Bull driver's appearance in that virtual event, Marko was asked by Sport1 about the defending F1 champion returning to full focus on real life racing with the upcoming new season on the horizon.
But the Austrian replied: "The opposite is the case. He even had his private plane converted so that he can fly a simulator in the air in the future. But that's a good thing, too, because Max needs this distraction. In any case, it didn't do him any harm when it came to his two titles."
He won't be able to compete online while in the air – stable high-speed Wi-Fi signals are tough to come by when jetting across the globe – but Verstappen will still be able to get in as much practice as he likes, even when away from his high-end racing setup at his Monaco home.
In any case, the 25-year-old something of a rarity among F1 drivers, in that he seems to relish his simulator work. While some are content to let their team's reserve driver clock up the hours needed to aid car development, Verstappen would rather do it himself.
He said as much recently when making it clear that he doesn't want new Red Bull reserve Daniel Ricciardo tinkering with his setups. The Dutchman said: "It helps me maintain my focus. You can't do much else when you're at home and I do enjoy sim racing.
"[The Red Bull] simulator is one of the best in this sport. The days are very long, but it's undoubtedly worth it. I also don't want a test driver to take over the simulator sessions, like other teams do. I want to do it myself, because everyone has their own driving style."
