– This cannot be true, was the immediate reaction of the 21-year-old from Gol in Hallingdal. In February, there was a message from the e-sports team for Max Verstappen – the reigning world champion in Formula 1. Tribute to Verstappen Verstappen drives for Team Redline, which competes in so-called “sim racing”, that is, car driving on a simulator. It was the Formula 1 star herself who wanted to get in touch with the Norwegian. IN ACTION: Ole Steinbråten is at the top of the world in “sim racing” and drives for Max Verstappen’s team. Photo: Jørgen Terland Gundersen / news – I learned that Verstappen had scouted around for new drivers for the team. He discovered my name quite quickly and found out that he wanted to send me a message, explains Steinbråten. The 21-year-old has distinguished himself through several strong results internationally in recent times. In March he won a race with over 15,000 participants. After talks and testing, Steinbråten signed up for what many consider to be the best team in the world within sim racing. He was officially presented on social media last week. Verstappen explains to news why he wanted Steinbråten on the team. – Ole is already naturally fast, but also has the motivation and dedication to work hard to improve his results even more. And that is ultimately the key to success, he says. WORLD STAR: Max Verstappen is a two-time world champion in Formula 1. Photo: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AP And Verstappen says he sees great potential in his new Norwegian teammate: – His driving is of course already at a very high level, otherwise he wouldn’t were where he is now. But the beauty is that the potential is unlimited, but also unknown. I think it is positive for Ole to be surrounded by other good drivers. It can help to make both himself and others even better. Talk to Verstappen five times a week In the middle of Steinbråten’s own living room is a simulator that he estimates has a value of around NOK 100,000. It consists of four screens, a racing seat, steering wheel and pedals. The whole thing is powered by a powerful computer that he has built himself. The conversation with Team Redline takes place on “voice chat” while they are driving. Very often Verstappen is included in the conversation. Steinbråten estimates that they talk up to five days a week. ON THE TEAM: Steinbråten drives for Verstappen’s e-sports team. Photo: Jørgen Terland Gundersen / news STEERING WHEEL: This is what Steinbråten’s steering wheel looks like in the simulator. Photo: Jørgen Terland Gundersen / news QUICKLY: It goes away when the 21-year-old presses down on the pedal in the simulator. Photo: Jørgen Terland Gundersen / news – Do you sometimes think that it is a bit of a surreal situation? – Very often. Many of my friends are big fans of Verstappen. So when I said that I was in a voice chat with him, they just replied: “stop bullshitting!”. – It is perhaps when you see how extremely they react that you begin to realize how big it is, he adds. news asks Verstappen if you can compare driving a car on a simulator with driving a car in real life. – Overall, yes, you can. The settings are quite similar, as is the way one prepares for a race. And that’s the beauty of it. The only thing missing in sim racing is of course the G-forces, explains the Dutch Formula 1 driver. HIGH SPEED: Verstappen often drives at well over 300 km/h. This results in large G-forces. Photo: WILLIAM WEST / AFP From swimming to e-sports For Steinbråten, interest in car games has been there since childhood. He got his inspiration from his father, who was a racing driver as a hobby and drove car races in Germany. Steinbråten says that he often tried to imitate his father’s competitions through the car game Gran Turismo. But Hallingdølen has also been actively involved in swimming since the age of 6 and has two NM medals in the prize cupboard. Right up until about a year ago, sport was the first priority. But when the corona pandemic came, he started to prioritize differently, and in January last year he gave himself up as a seamstress. FOCUS: The conversation with Verstappen takes place on “voice chat”. Photo: Jørgen Terland Gundersen / news – It felt very strange at the start. I had been swimming for the past 15 years and it was a very big part of my life. The pandemic was certainly an important reason why I quit. The pool was closed, and all votes were cancelled, he said. Instead, he began to spend more and more time in the simulator. The hours he has spent behind the wheel have now given him the opportunity to drive alongside the best. But betting everything on becoming the best simulator driver in the world has not always been easy. – I have certainly met with resistance. In particular, there have been periods where you have felt it has been more difficult to perform because the confidence and speed have not been in place. Fortunately, I myself have worked purposefully and dedicatedly through these periods, which has meant that they have been short-lived, explains Steinbråten.
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My Norwegian Ole (21) has “unlimited potential” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
