Keep in mind final yr, once we have been all awestruck by Purple Bull Formulation 1 driver Sergio Perez and his skill to navigate a race monitor blindfolded? Effectively now, a brand new F1 superpower has manifested itself, as AlphaTauri challenged its drivers with figuring out Formulation 1 tracks based mostly on engine sound alone.
Within the newest installment of its TauriTalk podcast, Purple Bull junior group AlphaTauri tasked racers Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries with figuring out tracks on final yr’s F1 calendar on nothing however engine be aware. In every occasion, the drivers should determine what surfaces make the automobile sound bumpy, what corners pressure them to sluggish and shift down the gears, and what tracks function turns that preserve them at slower speeds. It’s actually unimaginable.
Regardless of sounding like a tricky ask, Tsunoda is assured in his talents and says it ought to be “simple.” Then, over the course of the clip (shared under) he and teammate de Vries are pitched towards each other, with every racing to establish tracks like Silverstone within the UK and Baku in Azerbaijan as shortly as attainable.
Some tracks the 2 drivers are capable of spot right away, because of the sound of the automobiles bottoming out as they did rather a lot final yr because of the proposing phenomenon that was introduced on by the brand new rules. On different makes an attempt, the pair appear stumped, earlier than an iconic part of corners provides the sport away.
It’s a kind of abilities you could’t assist however be impressed by and, regardless of how onerous I attempt, I nonetheless wrestle to identify the clues that give every circuit away. However then, I suppose I haven’t spent hours practising every monitor on the F1 calendar in a simulator or on-track throughout apply periods, junior collection or different racing antics.
So, have you ever tried the sport? It begins at across the 33-minute mark within the newest episode of TauriTalk, which is accessible to look at on YouTube and is linked above. Tell us which you managed to guess within the feedback under.