Lambiase interim substitute on Verstappen collaboration: ‘No room for politics or nonsense’

Performance engineer Tom Hart, who took on Gianpiero Lampiasi’s role during free practice sessions for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, provides a unique look behind the scenes of his work at Red Bull Racing and into teaming up with three-time world champion Max Verstappen.

As a performance engineer, Hart is constantly looking at all the available data and trying to find a way to get more speed out of the RB20. In conversation with Telegraph The engineer who took over Lambiasi’s duties in the first free training session at Imola, recalls some of the important data that he can see on his computer screens. “For example, I can see how the tires behave individually, how hot the brakes are and how the engine’s hybrid systems behave.”

During Friday’s free practice sessions, Lambis’ familiar voice was not heard in Verstappen’s ear over the car’s on-board radio. Hart, who, along with Lampis, Michael Manning and David Mart, is part of the permanent circle of engineers around Verstappen, has been able to gain experience as Verstappen’s race engineer. “The GP (Lambiase, ed.) is the one who talks to Max during the sessions, so he has to filter through all the information we have and evaluate what he finds appropriate to pass on to Max,” explains Hart of the role Lambiase, who was allowed to take on Friday.

On Friday, the Briton was in direct contact with Verstappen during training sessions. “He (Verstappen, ed.) also now has a huge library of experience as a driver. “In the end, Max is the best sensor,” says Hart. “He feels what he is up against and can make it very clear if he wants to try something different and exactly what it is. He is very direct and knows what he wants. There is no room for politics or nonsense.

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What does a weekend look like as an engineer?

During a race weekend, there is a lot to expect from the engineer. Hart gives a unique look behind the scenes and explains what the weekend is like for him in general. “First we have to make sure the car behaves as we expected. Then we look at how we can get the most out of the speed during one lap. Where are we losing time in the corners, does Max feel limited somewhere at the beginning of this corner or at the end? Then we look after That’s the longer term and how we can protect ourselves from potential dangers.

The driver can adjust many things at the steering wheel with the help of his engineer, such as brake balance. These changes can sometimes bring a lot to the driver. Last season’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix is ​​a good example of this. “In those first four races, Chico and Max were close together. But in terms of the setups and tools he uses, Max has gone in a completely different direction since that race in Baku,” says Hart. ‘He has a so-called twelve.’ Switch positions It can be used. He tested several of them in Baku, while usually using two or three on the weekend. Max learned a lot then, and so do we.’

Verstappen and the engineers are on the same page

Verstappen has only failed to win three times since that race in Baku, and he is rarely completely satisfied. There are always things that can be improved according to Verstappen, but fortunately for the Dutchman Engineers Same mentality. “Coincidentally, we were still talking about it together on Thursday evening. As engineers, we’re a bit like goalkeepers in football. It’s only when we make a big mistake that it becomes noticeable,” explains Hart.

“We have to keep pushing to see if we can improve anything in the areas where we have not performed perfectly yet. Even if we are faster than the rest in every corner, we are still not satisfied and look at where we left something behind. It all worked out.” It was fine in China, then in Miami with the same car we didn’t have the speed and then you can understand very well why, here in Imola the asphalt is completely different, the conditions are different and the tire compounds are different too.

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Verstappen also has to rely on engineers

In 2020, Hart started as Performance engineer From Alexander Albon, but a year later he moved to Verstappen’s team. The Briton took a different approach with the three-time world champion. “With Alex, we basically looked at how to bridge the gap with Max, using the same material. With Max, you’re looking less at the other side of the garage,” Hart describes as the biggest difference. “His experience, not only in Formula 1 but also with other cars, helps us,” he added. In fact, after the race weekend, I also became a translator of sorts. In interrogation, Max tells us about his limits. Drivers speak their own language. We then look at his words with the factory workers as well as the data collected.

But although Verstappen knows exactly what can be improved, he sometimes has to rely on information he receives from his engineers. “Certainly in the races we have Longer game To play. “We can see other drivers’ lap times and different tire wear,” says Hart. “For example, if we say Max needs to change something in his handlebar, he might think well: The balance now is right. But then we have to prepare for later in the race. If you wait until the front tires are on, it will be too late. “We always have to think one step ahead, otherwise we go too slow,” says Hart.