Toro Rosso confirms schedule for Verstappen and Sainz in Barcelona - MotorSportsTalk

Scuderia Toro Rosso has become the latest team to confirm its line-up for the upcoming F1 pre-season test, taking place in Barcelona next week (Feb 19-22).

The Italian team celebrates its tenth season of racing in Formula 1 this year, and boasts the youngest ever line-up in the history of the sport.

Max Verstappen, 17, and Carlos Sainz Jr, 20, may have a combined age that is just two years older than Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button, but both have enjoyed impressive junior careers to date.

The rookies enjoyed a solid first running in the STR10 car in Jerez two weeks ago, completing a total of 352 laps between them, and both will be hoping to continue this form in Barcelona next week.

Toro Rosso confirmed to MotorSportsTalk that Max Verstappen will be testing on days one and three of the test, with Carlos Sainz Jr. running on the second and fourth days.

Day 1: Max Verstappen
Day 2: Carlos Sainz Jr.
Day 3: Max Verstappen
Day 4: Carlos Sainz Jr.

Sunday in Barcelona is set to be a busy one for the Spanish fans, with both Sainz and Fernando Alonso giving the locals a home favorite to watch out on track ahead of the new F1 season.

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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”