– 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 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 state, a screenshot from the popular Mario Kart video game appears on the central display.
The background of 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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On 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.”
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However, Leclerc was not the only driver in recent days to compare the current Formula 1 with the Nintendo classic: Sergio Perez also expressed criticism and Max Verstappen even joked that he would use the video game as preparation for Formula 1 races in the future.
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