Verstappen samples Honda's first F1 winner
Max Verstappen got a first taste of vintage Formula 1 machinery ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix when he tried out Honda’s first race-winning car.
Max Verstappen, Honda RA272 with Takuma Sato

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RB8, Takuma Sato, Honda RA272

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen, Honda RA272 with Takuma Sato

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen, Honda RA272 with Takuma Sato

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen, Honda RA272

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen, Honda RA272 with Takuma Sato

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RB8, Takuma Sato, Honda RA272

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen, Honda RA272

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
During a special event at Honda's R&D test facility at Tochigi, Verstappen tested an RA272 that American Richie Ginther famously delivered the Japanese car manufacturer's first F1 victory with in the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix.
It was the first time that Verstappen has driven older F1 machinery, and he confessed to not feeling as comfortable in it as modern grand prix cars.
"It was very cool to get to experience this car," said the Dutchman. "I think the oldest race car I've driven before today was from about 2008. It's quite different, but I really enjoyed it.
"The pure emotion from the engine and the car itself was incredible. I didn't even fit properly in the car! But it was an amazing experience for sure."
He added: "I'm very happy that I was born a bit later [than to have raced this car], but of course I'm really grateful to be able to experience it. I don't think I would race it myself, and if you look back 50 years the evolution is insane. But it is good fun to go back to these cars."
After trying out the RA272 , Verstappen later put in a demonstration run on the banking at Tochigi in a 2011 RB7, while former grand prix driver and Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato drove the old Honda car.
Read Also:

Previous article
F1 hopes to minimise disruption from Typhoon Hagibis
Next article
First look: Mercedes' Japanese GP upgrades

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Event | Japanese GP |
Drivers | Max Verstappen |
Teams | Red Bull Racing |
Author | Jonathan Noble |
Verstappen samples Honda's first F1 winner
Trending
Is Red Bull Hiding the Real RB16B? | F1 2021
Sergio Perez's First Drive With Red Bull Racing
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
Eight things Red Bull must do to beat Mercedes in 2021
After seven years of defeat at the hands of Mercedes, Red Bull is as hungry as ever to secure a fifth world championship. But there are key challenges it must overcome in 2021 to switch from challenger to conqueror
How AlphaTauri has adapted to F1's new rules
AlphaTauri launched its AT02, complete with a new livery, as it bids to home in on an already-tight midfield battle. Although there were few outright new parts displayed on the launch render, there might be a few clues into further changes down the line…