The Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in the season-opener
\n SYDNEY
\nFour-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was not having much fun driving the new era of Formula One cars, joking he was \u201cpractising with Mario Kart\u201d because it was more realistic than his simulator.
\nThe Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in the season-opener in Australia last weekend before having to carve his way from 20th on the grid to finish a creditable sixth.
\nThe new cars require battery management and energy harvesting with a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.
\nThey also have features such as straight-line mode, active aero, overtake and boost buttons, which Verstappen reckons are nearer to a video game.
\n\u201cI swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch. I\u2019m practising with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, the blue shells are a bit more difficult.\u201d
\nVerstappen announced this week that he would be driving in the Nurburgring 24-hour race this year.
\n\u201cI wish I had a bit more fun for sure,\u201d he said of Formula One at the moment.
\n\u201cI mean, I get to race the Nordschleife (Nurburgring) and I hope in the coming years I can do Spa and hopefully Le Mans.
\n\u201cSo I\u2019m combining stuff and I\u2019m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a bit conflicted because I don\u2019t really enjoy to drive the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well.\u201d
\nHe did express optimism that things would improve as the new rules and regulations were adjusted and said drivers were already in discussions over changes.
\n\u201cI hope, of course, that it gets better,\u201d said the Dutchman.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve had discussions with F1 and the FIA and I think we are working towards something that will improve everything.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in the season-opener SYDNEY Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was not having much fun driving the new era of Formula One cars, joking he was \u201cpractising with Mario Kart\u201d because it was more realistic than his simulator. The Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":536305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-536277","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n