(Motorsport-Total.com) – The start of the new Formula 1 era is currently accompanied by a humorous comparison with the Nintendo classic “Mario Kart”. And that is exactly what Ferrari turned into a viral social media hit ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix (here is the complete schedule).
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In a video released by the Scuderia on its channels on Thursday, Leclerc can be seen pressing a key combination on the steering wheel of his Ferrari SF-26. The result? Instead of a data set on the battery’s energy status, a screenshot from the popular Mario Kart video game appears on the central display.
The background to this joke goes back to the race in Australia last weekend: During the duel with Mercedes driver George Russell, Leclerc activated the new overtake boost and then radioed his race engineer Bryan Bozzi: “It feels like a mushroom in Mario Kart.”
The Ferrari mechanics have now picked up on this comparison and uploaded the “update” to Leclerc’s steering wheel. The team commented on the clip with a wink: “‘It’s like a mushroom in Mario Kart.’ Now we know why …” Logically: The fun function will of course not be used during the race in China.
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In social networks, however, the video is triggering a wave of enthusiasm. “Mamma Mia Perfecto, please do that in the real race,” one fan demands. Another user jokes with a view to the complex energy management of the new cars: “Bro needs to practice before the race. So he installed the most precise simulator for these new regulations.”
However, Leclerc was not the only driver in recent days to compare current Formula 1 with the Nintendo classic: Sergio Perez also expressed criticism and Max Verstappen even joked that he would use the video game in the future to prepare for Formula 1 races.
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