Race week in Las Vegas kicked off with 4 Formulation 1 drivers piloting out-of-this-world automobiles in three challenges within the Nevada desert. The fourth episode of the (Un)critical Race Sequence noticed the quartet of F1 World Champion Max Verstappen and Oracle Pink Bull Racing teammate Sergio “Checo” Pérez and Scuderia AlphaTauri aces Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo face off in two-seater hovercrafts. The remoted website is well-known for a distinct sort of hovering automobiles – alien spacecraft – so F1 drivers racing hovercrafts, extremely uncommon wherever else, was par for the course.
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Whereas it was a pleasant competitors, the aggressive nature of the drivers shone via, resulting in technique discussions between teammates and on-track sport faces showing between the near-constant laughter. The 13-foot lengthy, 26.5 horsepower hovercraft examined the drivers’ expertise as they offered little traction and relied on counter-steering to glide via the course at 30 mph/48 kph. Dry desert wind and ample mud solely added to the talent wanted to deal with the distinctive problem.
Daniel and Yuki, who have been pitted in opposition to one another within the mini jet boats in Miami, proved a formidable hovercraft crew. Whereas Max and Checo received the primary problem and put up a strong battle to the tip, the Scuderia AlphaTauri drivers may eke out the general win by a 2-1 problem tally. However there was nothing however smiles from all 4 drivers because the trophy was awarded in opposition to a crashed flying saucer not far-off.
“It’s enjoyable to be out within the Nevada desert forward of the Las Vegas GP. I feel the hovercrafts look cool, and so they have been entertaining to drive. They have been slower than I assumed, however you’re floating over the bottom. The challenges are enjoyable, particularly whenever you do it collectively as a crew with Checo and Scuderia AlphaTauri. This sequence has been enjoyable this yr. We’ve pushed numerous completely different automobiles everywhere in the world. I feel that makes it stunning,” mentioned Max.
Concerning the hovercrafts, Checo commented, “I’ve seen them, however I’ve by no means pushed a hovercraft earlier than, so it’s my first time…and I ended up consuming a variety of sand, so I don’t want lunch for as we speak. They collapse and go into the ground whenever you unbalance them, so it was fairly difficult – it’s important to assume loads whereas driving them.” He mentioned of the upcoming Las Vegas race, “I feel Las Vegas is a singular venue – with the followers, the racing at night time for the primary time right here – I feel persons are actually going to take pleasure in it.”
“I take pleasure in doing these items,” mentioned Ricciardo. “On a race week, we race, and that’s our major focus, and on observe, every part’s so aggressive, so to spend a while with not solely Yuki however Max and Checo and to be out right here within the desert in an surroundings the place we’re all simply laughing – these are most likely one of the best workdays we will get.”
“I didn’t know the way the automobiles behave,” mentioned Tsunoda. “It’s a variety of enjoyable and drifting, however concurrently, it’s important to management the throttle exactly to make it flip rapidly. You cease should you launch an excessive amount of throttle and contact an excessive amount of floor. So there’s fine-tuning, which makes it troublesome, however total, it’s pleasurable.”
Right here’s the way it all unfolded:
Problem 1: “Rescue Mission” – Max and Checo are victorious.
The groups took turns embarking on a tandem dash via a course laden with obstacles in pursuit of a lockbox on the finish of the course. Their mission: get better the lockbox, execute a driver swap and race again to the place to begin. Victory belonged to the crew that achieved this rescue and return mission with utmost pace and finesse.
Problem 2: “Crop Circles” – Daniel and Yuki make a comeback and earn the win.
Every driver was given 30 seconds to finish as many “crop circles” as potential across the pillars, creating crop circles. Victory would go to the crew that completed probably the most doughnuts/circles. In an sudden and humorous transfer, Max tried to get a “leg up” on the competitors by hanging out of the hovercraft and utilizing his left foot to help in finishing tighter and quicker doughnuts. Sadly, the out-of-the-box technique was not sufficient to take the win.
Problem 3: “The Remaining Race” – Daniel and Yuki are the winners within the Nevada desert!
With every crew profitable, they put all of the chips on the desk for the relay tiebreaker. In a head-to-head race, the groups made their approach via a slalom course one driver at a time, switching drivers for the second lap. Daniel banked flip after flip earlier than reserving it down the straight, with Max simply milliseconds behind him earlier than Yuki and Checo jumped into the automobiles. Ultimately, Yuki was capable of pull forward and float throughout the end line to safe the general victory.
The fourth (Un)sequence, Race Sequence, unfolded in a typical lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek type. By way of the yr, the pleasant – however finally considerably aggressive – sequence stored the drivers on their toes and challenged them in unfamiliar automobiles and terrain: from the waterways of Miami in mini jet boats to the Erzberg iron mine of Austria in 500 horsepower mega vehicles, from Kei vehicles in a Japanese-style sport present to Renegade Hovercrafts within the Nevada desert.
