WATCH: Max Verstappen learns to Drift with former Formula Drift Japan champion Mad Mike

Kiwi icon Mad Mike gives Max Verstappen a lesson in the art of Drifting.

WATCH: Max Verstappen learns to Drift with former Formula Drift Japan champion Mad Mike

Max Verstappen drifting Mad Mike's Mazda RX7 (image via Red Bull)

Max Verstappen is currently the driver to beat in Formula 1. The two-time world champion has dominated the sport since the start of the ground-effect era. The Dutch driver has won ten of the twelve races this year. The 25-year-old headed into the summer break with an eight-race-win streak. Verstappen spent time learning an important skill with Red Bull’s Mad Mike.

“Mad” Mike Whiddett is a Kiwi drifting icon. The 42-year-old is an established driver in the drifting arena and is sponsored by Red Bull. Mad Mike introduced the machinery for this event, a 1992 Mazda RX7 that produced 600 horsepower. The Kiwi admitted that this was the first time this RX7 would be driven by someone other than him. Max Verstappen expressed his desire to keep the car in one piece. He said, “So there’s a lot of pressure on me to keep it.”

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Mike showed the obstacle course to Verstappen. The track included handbrake turns, donuts, figure 8, and the iconic Scandi flick in three stages. The 42-year-old asked the Red Bull driver if he had ever drifted before. Max Verstappen admitted that he had never made a car drift despite winning two F1 world titles.

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Max Verstappen drifts for the first time in his life with Mad Mike

Mad Mike and Max Verstappen (image via Red Bull)
Mad Mike and Max Verstappen (image via Red Bull)

Drifting a car is no easy feat, even for an F1 world champion. Max Verstappen did not have the smoothest starts and was briefed by Mad Mike once again regarding using the handbrake. The reigning world champion is a quick learner, as he soon got the tail out of the 600-horsepower Mazda. The two had a fist bump as they completed the first phase. Although phase two was not as easy.

Verstappen bumped the bollard while trying to do a figure 8. The Dutchman cited the lack of familiarity with the clutch system of the RX7 as the reason for this mishap. Thankfully, the two-time world champion got the hang of it and completed the stage with ease. The Scandi flick was perhaps the most challenging stage for the Red Bull driver as he hit several cones on his first attempt.

However, Max Verstappen managed to make it to the final round. The Dutch driver was asked to clip on the hands of the Christian Horner cardboard cutouts. Verstappen lived up to the challenge and truly aced it. Mad Mike was delighted to see the F1 champion succeed in drifting.

Thus, Max Verstappen has finally learned how to drift courtesy of Kiwi icon Mad Mike. The 2018 Formula Drift Japan winner perfectly explained to Verstappen the art of drifting as the Dutch driver passed all stages. Certainly, fans would be looking forward to having the reigning world champion attempt more such drifts in the future.

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