The Red Flags Podcast Martin Villari on Max's Weakness, Why F1 Drivers Need Coaches, and Who'll Dominate in 2026
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Jan 19, 2026 Martin Villari, also known as Lower Lap Time, is a driver coach and YouTuber specializing in racing techniques. In this chat, he dissects why Max Verstappen excels in wet conditions and the pitfalls of copying teammate setups. He explores driver mentalities, the importance of coach guidance in F1, and evaluates the strengths of talents like Lando Norris and George Russell. Plus, he shares insights on how upcoming regulations in 2026 could shake up the grid—and the qualities that would make the perfect Formula 1 driver.
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Comfort Defines Early Performance
- Lando struggled early because he never fully gelled with the McLaren, while Oscar felt comfortable from the start.
- As Lando adapted to the car midseason he revealed a higher ceiling than Oscar, changing the competitive dynamic.
Train The Process On The Sim
- Use the sim as a process trainer to iterate lines, braking and setups rather than treating it as exact reality.
- Practice problem-solving on the sim so you're ready to adapt quickly when the real car lands on race weekend.
Max's Lap-Time Obsession Wins Races
- Max optimizes relentlessly for lap time and iterates setups faster than rivals, making winning a byproduct.
- That obsession lets him tailor a car to his style and extract consistent qualifying perfection.