Max Verstappen Reportedly ‘Has Been Introduced’ to Red Bull’s 2021 F1 Car

Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, has already gotten a first impression of the new car, according to RacingNews365. The Dutchman will be looking to build on a 2020 season, which didn’t see any sizable progress from Red Bull.

Verstappen will be looking to challenge the juggernaut that is Mercedes in the 2021 season. He finished a distant third place in the Driver’s Championship, with 214 points, only 9 points behind second-place Valtteri Bottas.

“Max Verstappen has also already been introduced to Red Bull’s latest combat weapon. However, he did that last year in the early development phase of the new car,” reads the report. (translated via Google)

Max Verstappen’s first taste of the RB16B

Whenever the winter test comes around, a phrase flies around: After the first meters, we can see from the eyes of Max Verstappen what kind of season it can be.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit have installed a state-of-the-art simulator in their facility, which has allowed both drivers, Verstappen and Sergio Perez, to experience the team’s upcoming F1 car.

Verstappen has not been to the Red Bull factory yet due to COVID restrictions. However, with the help of this simulator, he was able to see the car last year while it was still in the early development phase.

Red Bull looking to give a better challenge to Mercedes in 2021

Red Bull finished second in the Constructors Championship, trailing behind Mercedes by whopping 254 points. Out of the team’s 319 points, 214 came from Verstappen’s car.

The reason why Red Bull were so far behind Mercedes was because of the lack of reliable points from Alex Albon. He couldn’t take advantage of Mercedes’ strategy problems, and could only manage two third-place finishes in the entire season.

Red Bull have roped in Mexican driver Sergio Perez to try to rectify that problem. Perez has consistently outperformed the machinery at his disposal and has taken advantage of slip-ups by better cars.

Red Bull are hoping this shake-up in the driver line-up gives them an edge in the Constructor’s title.