Max Verstappen Dominates Inaugural F1 Soapbox Race at Parc Olympique
In a unique prelude to the much-anticipated Canadian Grand Prix, the world’s fastest drivers from Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App RB teams showcased their skills in F1’s inaugural Soapbox Race. Here’s the scoop:
- The event was hosted by Molly Carlson, a Montreal-based Red Bull Cliff Diving star and internet sensation, along with renowned Canadian snowboarder Craig McMorris. The course, laid out at the iconic Parc Olympique in Montreal, featured a series of challenges designed to test the drivers.
- With enthusiastic support from fans of both teams, drivers navigated the Great Canadian Crossing, braved a snowstorm, survived a chicane, and tackled a series of rollers. After battling for the best qualifying times, the drivers competed in thrilling one-on-one races to the finish line.
- Ultimately, weight and height played crucial roles in determining soapbox performance. Max Verstappen clinched the fastest time, followed closely by Daniel Ricciardo and Checo Perez.
- Daniel Ricciardo remarked, “I’ve never done a soapbox race before. Zero horsepower was scarier than 700 horsepower! We discussed weight at the beginning, knowing Max had the advantage over me, then Checo, and finally Yuki – and we were right!”
- Max Verstappen noted, “With everyone in the same soapbox, there’s not much difference. The heaviest one usually has a slight advantage, and I think I was the heaviest of the four, so going downhill, that’s a bit of an advantage.”
- Checo Perez commented, “It was good fun, a bit hectic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t jump enough despite trying my best. I always knew it would be between Max and Daniel due to weight. I could have told you the one who was going to lose was Yuki because he’s quite a lot lighter than even myself!”
- Yuki Tsunoda shared, “The main target was to drive fast and not brake at the chicane. In the end, I achieved that, so I was happy, but it didn’t work out!”
Highlights of the Event:
- Each driver received a personalized soapbox featuring their names and race numbers.
- 80 lucky fans from Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App RB were invited to witness the action live and meet the drivers.
- The course included key challenges:
- The Great Canadian Crossing, with cutouts of hockey players, maple leaves, and raccoons.
- A snowstorm, simulating near whiteout conditions.
- A prairie-inspired chicane, testing drivers’ steering skills with tight turns.
- A drive through the Rocky Mountains ramp of rollers, concluding their run.
- In the qualifying round, each driver made one run to clock their fastest time. Max secured pole position, followed by Daniel, Checo, and Yuki.
- The event culminated in head-to-head races: Checo versus Yuki, and Max against Daniel.
Montreal has a rich history of soapbox racing, with the last Red Bull Soapbox race held in 2015 near Victoria Square. This summer, Red Bull Soapbox returns to Edmonton on June 22, with 60 teams competing in homemade soapboxes for a chance to become the hero of the day.