Russell answers Horner's simulator claim: 2013 was preparation, not a favour
George Russell said paying to use Red Bull's simulator in 2013 was preparation for testing, as no team had its own simulator then.
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A disputa é sobre o que uma sessão de simulador de 13 anos atrás realmente valeu, e a resposta de George Russell é que se tratava de preparação, não de favor. O piloto da Mercedes foi questionado em Austin sobre o relato de Christian Horner a respeito de três adolescentes pagando para usar o equipamento da Red Bull, e respondeu descrevendo o estado do esporte na época em vez de contestar que houve pagamento.
Horner, afastado do cargo de chefe de equipe e CEO da Red Bull no ano passado, fez a afirmação no podcast High Performance nesta semana. Sua versão é que Russell, Lando Norris e Oscar Piastri compraram horas no simulador da equipe de Milton Keynes quando jovens, com os pais assinando os cheques. “Eu lembro que o George Russell pagava para usar nosso simulador, assim como Lando Norris e Oscar Piastri.”
Ele foi além dos pagamentos. O responsável pelo simulador, segundo Horner, lhe disse que os três eram mais fortes que os juniores que a Red Bull já tinha no programa. Horner afirma que então levou o grupo a Helmut Marko e argumentou que mereciam uma avaliação, abordagem que não gerou contratos, porque Marko não tinha interesse em contratá-los.
Russell, segundo no campeonato de pilotos, deu sua versão durante os compromissos com a imprensa no circuito texano antes do GP dos Estados Unidos. “Em 2013, simulador não era algo que existisse para ninguém.” Nenhum programa de jovens tinha um, explicou, então a chance de rodar um carro de Fórmula Renault naquela máquina serviu de prática para os testes e para o campeonato que disputavam. Era só isso, disse, e não quis se estender.
O GP dos Estados Unidos acontece no Circuit of The Americas de 23 a 25 de outubro e abre a penúltima sequência tripla da temporada.
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