Lopez FV Team's drivers Sergio Álvarez and Max Meyer, joined up to have a chat in the Swiss Alps to dissect the 2023 season, and more before going away on holidays. Click on this article to read the transcript from the light-hearted conversation between the Lopez teammates. Max Meyer. So, here we are, literally chilling in the Swiss Alps with a bonfire. I am more than snuggled up in my coats because it is absolutely freezing out here Sergio!
Sergio Álvarez. Cold? Are you cold Max? You will see me running in my underpants after this. MM. Nobody needs to see that Serg! SÁ. You just want the 20 races a year in middle east don’t you Max? You no like the cold? MM. I definitely wouldn’t say no if we could take the more comfortable weather with us! You know what, it’d also help you keep that crazy tan you got when we went to Dubai this year. SÁ. Aha si si, yes. I was quite proud of that one! I need to ask you first question before you turn into something frozen. Because I see you shivering before we start, maybe you can build on this little bonfire some more. So Max, how optimistic are you for the upcoming season? MM. Oh this bonfire needs to turn into the sun to keep me warm! As for 2024. I cannot wait! I cannot wait in general to hop into a car and drive it. The 2024 car was pretty fun to drive on the sim when we got a chance! SÁ. We? I’ve only driven next year’s car once so far on simulator. MM. You’re missing out! I will get to round 1 and lap 5 seconds faster! SÁ. Hahaha, you funny man! I always like this guy and his humour. What about your reflection on 2023? MM. This year was fun. It was really great to get the team back into the points in the last few rounds. It has been a little bit of a tough ride at times, especially the start of the year when we had that massive 2 and a half month gap between races. Obviously that wasn’t part of the plan but it was tricky to stay motivated because we weren’t racing when we should have been. I certainly struggled at times but I heard you treated it like a 2nd off season Serg? SÁ. Something like that, yes. I did return home to Viedma once I was told we would not be racing. It is, ehh, maybe 10 hour drive or 1 hour flight from Buenos Aires. I just took the opportunity to return and spend a little more time with the family than we usually do in off season. MM. Lucky man! I got to see my family in Kyalami this season but not during the big break. And I feel like that enormous extra break affected my driving when we returned a little bit. There were many, many events where we weren’t too far away from getting into the points. But I didn't really feel like I was performing near where I felt I could until the latter stages of the season. At times it was getting to the point where I pondered, would the day ever come where we got points we deserved? Because I, like I said really struggled to get back into it once we got to Fuji after so long off. SÁ. I was similar once I came back from my holiday. I got back into my routine but I did not quite get back in smoothly to the car. And that especially showed in qualifying when I just could never put together a lap, meanwhile I saw you were getting 2, 3 places away in races, very close to points. But then when I started to get better in qualifying later in the season, I thought my race craft started to get worse! The only race in the season where everything just went close to perfect I think was my home race. MM. I think that leads us quite nicely into the next question. What was your highlight of the season? SÁ. Of course, it has to be failing to qualify at the season opening race! MM. Yea, definitely Serg! SÁ. Haha no, it had to be for me my home race in Buenos Aires. That whole week was just magical. I say the whole week because we were making appearances every day, no? Obviously I had the support of the whole nation and they pushed me all the way on the weekend. I out-qualified you this weekend too, I know I did not do that many times this season! MM. I think it was 13-3 in qualifying! SÁ. Ah, of course you’d know Max haha! But this one really counted. With all the support from the country it just felt like there was nothing that could happen to take away that points finish on that day. I did however get a flashback to a certain event in Malaysia which Alex from Phoenix, as well as I don't like talking about. MM. Oh reeeaaallllllyyy? Tell me more! SÁ. You see that tree in the distance? That is how close I was to 4th position. It was the best race of my life for 99.9% of the day. I'm sure I'll get a text from Alex after this now! Back to Argentina and this season now though. I think 2023 was far from my best season in Formula Virtual, however that grand prix was by far the greatest race weekend I have ever enjoyed, especially because I had all of my friends and family at the track. I think I requested over 200 tickets for them all to be at the race. For everyone to be there and for me to go and get points, and celebrating after with them, it was a very special couple of days. MM. Oooohh, god I’m still really, really cold here. But yes, I certainly remember some of your family whipping out some epic dance moves that evening! SÁ. Haha you need to jump into the bonfire nearly to stay warm! But what about you then Max? We both scored our first points since 2021. What was your highlight this season? MM. For me, obviously also racing at home at Kyalami is always special. Given we are not returning there next season, it’s made me really cherish every opportunity I got to compete at that beautiful race track. As for my highlight of the season, it is kind of like a highlight within a highlight at Montreal. You’d remember how over the moon we were to finally break that drought and score our first points and the team’s first points since 2021. But for me the best highlight wasn’t actually bringing the car home in the points, or even the overtake on I think.. Schnyder? To get into the points. Actually for me it is the overtake before that on Nathaniel Powers. It’s not everyday either of us get to say we overtook a 5 time world champion on merit, so for many reasons that will be a day I remember for a long time. SÁ. Yes, even though we both at times struggled in 2023, we both had success given how challenging the opening of the season was for both of us. MM. Yeah, almost as challenging as this lovely weather. I need another hot chocolate or 100! SÁ. If you drink another you can get yourself a hot chocolate sponsorship. MM. I would not say no at this moment. Dit is te koud! SÁ. The only Afrikaans I know is Braai. Because I nearly ate too much of it this year in Kyalami. MM. Oh man, oh man I miss mum’s Braai. Now I may as well answer the next question on my card, which is my holiday plans! I’m flying out to South Africa in 2 days and I’ll spend Christmas with one part of my family in Johannesburg where I grew up, as well as the other side of my family who are near Harare in Zimbabwe for new year’s. Maybe check out some test cricket with my mates in Jo-burg as well as we used to always go to the new year's cricket match without fail. After that, I also have plans to go to Cape Town to go surfing, before returning to Jo-burg once more, and then returning here to Switzerland to get back into the groove for 2024. It’s nice being back to where I grew up, because it is always summertime when we have our off season, and the weather is always glorious at this time of year. SÁ. Wow, that sounds so nice! I’ll also head back to Viedma this off season because we have enormous family events that nearly last the whole time I am away from Europe! Over Christmas and New Year’s it is all about seeing the family. Big, huge family gatherings with all the most amazing food you could ever imagine. I miss it all the time so coming back to it is easily my favourite time of the year. MM. We both wish we could take our families everywhere in the world don’t we? SÁ. Yes indeed, nothing beats it. I’ll also go with my siblings and cousins to Iguazu Falls for the first time, so that will be a very special trip as well. My brother used to be scared of waterfalls so we will see if he has conquered his fears! MM. Haha! Just totally thrown your brother under the bus! Hahaha! Goodness me Serg! SÁ. And on that note! Last question, and it is from a guest who is… somewhere around.. Stew Alexander. Hey y’all! SÁ. Stew! Hola! How are you! MM. Oh hey Stew! Have you been hiding behind that tree this whole time? Stew. Maaaayyyybbbeee. I don’t mind cos I just love hanging out in the snow. I heard you live and breathe for enjoying and experiencing the alpine regions like this Max! MM. You may want to get your sources refreshed Stew! That’s about as accurate as you on a dartboard! Stew. Oh jeez, stop it you! Haha! I’ll be hitting all the 180s, and making all of the snow angels you’ve ever seen when I get back to Detroit tomorrow night to celebrate Christmas. But anyways, I just popped in wanting to ask the pair of you what all of our goals are for 2024! I’ll start off really quick because I want to go out and win the VWRS next season. I didn’t get as clean of a run at the tail end of the season, but winning best rookie and coming home 6th overall gives me all the confidence that next year I can go out and win that title! MM. Good luck Stew! I remember I scored, I believe 5th back in 2019 in that series? But I think the sky is certainly the limit for all of us if you go in with the right attitude. For me the objective is to continue to build on this season and try to hopefully get more points finishes. And also to avoid the snowy weather! SÁ. My man, we will make you love the snow more than your beloved Braai one day! I do have the same thoughts about trying to stay fighting for points in 2024 as well. Especially at my home race again! Stew. Very good gentlemen! And that is a wrap of our season for 2023. You’ll see us in 2024 ready to do it all again. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! SÁ. Yes indeed! Hey Max, let’s say it in our languages as well, MM. I like that idea. Afrikaans eerste, Geseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwejaar! And Shona.. Merry Kisimusi uye Goredzva Rakanaka! SÁ. Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo! Adiós!
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