CAN F1 DRIVERS DRIFT?

Sure, Max Verstappen is one of the fastest drivers in the world operating at the top of his game, but can he smoke a set of rear tyres like the the best of them? We're there to witness his intro to the science of sideways

- JASON BARLOW

Max Verstappen is on fire. A huge lick of M flame has erupted from the exhaust of his car, and he's just dumped the clutch with a ferocity that would detonate a Formula One gearbox during a Grand Prix start. "Rev it to the moon!" says the man beside him, as the air is rent asunder by a sound like a haunted beehive. Then they explode forwards, and more pertinently sideways. Very, very sideways.

F1 drivers don't generally drift. If they do, it's usually the precursor to a crash or a big spin. Supernatural car control is a given, yet oversteer is anathema. But today reigning - soon to be triple - F1 world champion Verstappen is on a mission to add another skill to his formidable armoury. He's learning to drift. Now, Max's racing comfort zone is so well established he's practically moved a sofa and giant flatscreen TV into his all-conquering Red Bull RB19. But he insists there's work to be done.

"I've never drifted in my life. I haven't prepared at all so I guess that's even better," he says with a sheepish grin. "Here and there I've drifted a bit in my F1 car, but not like we're going to do today. Let's see if any skills I've learnt over the years can help me."