How Verstappen thinks he would go in a Supercar

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is confident he would be able to adapt to a Supercar.

Verstappen, who won the F1 title in 2021, is friends with Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen.

The Dutchman has never driven a Supercar, although he raced in the 2020 Eseries.

A winner of 21 Grands Prix, Verstappen has raced open wheelers for the balance of his career.

In an interview with Chad Neylon, Verstappen explained any driver must be willing to adapt to their car.

“I think after a few practice sessions, it’s fine,” he said.

“You just need a few days of driving. It’s completely different for me.

Verstappen and Jamie Whincup in 2017

“Back at home, I also drive in GT3 cars. I really enjoy it, but you have to adapt your style to it, it takes a few days.

“For Shane in an F1 car, he’s a bit too big. He would cover the inlet as well.

“As a driver, your main skill is to adapt to the situation; it doesn’t matter what car, it’s also grip levels, track layout.

“What you need from a car, because every track can be a bit different.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re an F1 driver or V8 driver; you adapt."

Verstappen also had a taste of a Supercar in 2019, albeit as Jamie Whincup’s passenger.

The 24-year-old’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, cut laps in a Triple Eight Supercar at Albert Park last week.

'It’s completely different for me'

Perez was taken aback by the braking performance and sequential gear system in particular.

However, how the Mexican driver drove the car also earned the ire of van Gisbergen himself.

Perez’s Supercar laps came as Fernando Alonso lapped Thomas Randle’s Tickford Mustang.

“It wouldn’t be in my car, I’ve seen [Alonso] sail off at Turn 1,” van Gisbergen joked.

“He ain’t driving my thing, and Perez buzzed ours to 88[00rpm], so he ain’t driving mine either.”

Verstappen pushed van Gisbergen all the way in the 2020 Supercars Eseries, with the Kiwi emerging victorious.

Van Gisbergen’s performance earned praise from his mate, who was impressed by the Supercars star’s recent dominance.

“I wish I had a little bit more practise,” Verstappen said of the 2020 Eseries.

“Shane is just incredibly good in these cars. For me, I couldn’t get within a tenth of his lap time.

“But he was fighting for that championship, and I was happy being second.

“Normally I wouldn’t settle for second, but losing to Shane and his V8 car, that’s alright.

“We do sim racing together, we’re both part of Team Redline. We talk a lot and chat with the team on Discord.

“We watch each other’s races, also last year. It’s good to have that connection; it’s really nice to see how well he’s doing in the V8s.

“He’s really on top of his game, and I enjoy watching that.”

Verstappen is 46 points behind F1 points leader Charles Leclerc after he retired from Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

Van Gisbergen will carry his series lead to Perth later this month.