Race week in Las Vegas kicked off with four Formula 1 drivers piloting out-of-this-world vehicles in three challenges in the Nevada desert. The fourth episode of the (Un)serious Race Series saw the quartet of F1 World Champion Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio “Checo” Pérez and Scuderia AlphaTauri aces Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo face off in two-seater hovercrafts. The isolated site is well known for a different type of hovering vehicles – alien spacecraft – so F1 drivers racing hovercrafts, highly unusual anywhere else, was par for the course.
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While it was a friendly competition, the competitive nature of the drivers shone through, leading to strategy discussions between teammates and on-track game faces appearing between the near-constant laughter. The 13-foot long, 26.5 horsepower hovercraft tested the drivers’ skills as they provided little traction and relied on counter-steering to glide through the course at 30 mph/48 kph. Dry desert wind and ample dust only added to the skill needed to tackle the unique challenge.
Daniel and Yuki, who were pitted against each other in the mini jet boats in Miami, proved a formidable hovercraft team. While Max and Checo won the first challenge and put up a solid fight to the end, the Scuderia AlphaTauri drivers could eke out the overall win by a 2-1 challenge tally. But there was nothing but smiles from all four drivers as the trophy was awarded against a crashed flying saucer not far away.
“It’s fun to be out in the Nevada desert ahead of the Las Vegas GP. I think the hovercrafts look cool, and they were entertaining to drive. They were slower than I thought, but you’re floating over the ground. The challenges are fun, especially when you do it together as a team with Checo and Scuderia AlphaTauri. This series has been fun this year. We’ve driven lots of different vehicles all over the world. I think that makes it beautiful,” said Max.
Regarding the hovercrafts, Checo commented, “I’ve seen them, but I’ve never driven a hovercraft before, so it’s my first time…and I ended up eating a lot of sand, so I don’t need lunch for today. They collapse and go into the floor when you unbalance them, so it was quite challenging – you have to think a lot while driving them.” He said of the upcoming Las Vegas race, “I think Las Vegas is a unique venue –…
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