“One of my dreams was to meet Max Verstappen, and through this journey it’s all come true. My brain is a bit all over the show – but I’m ready.
Content creator Taylor Serage will compete against Max Verstappen at Silverstone. Photo / Annaleise Shortland
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think ‘Race Mode’ and all my silly car videos would get me in front of Max. To see him talking and inviting me? I’m going to keep that video forever.”
While it all might seem like a bit of fun, Disney+ broadcasting the event on September 16 shows this is no joke.
Serage will be joined by a host of Red Bull athletes, celebrities, fellow creators and fans in trying to keep Verstappen in her mirrors and to prevent him winning at all costs.
The 30-year-old Aucklander has been picked by Red Bull as the sole New Zealand representative in the 100-strong field, but will also be joined by New Zealand-born, Australian-based TikTokker Nathan Lust for company.
What’s more, no stone will go unturned in her preparation.
With less than three weeks to go until the race in mid-September, Serage hit the track at Game Over in East Auckland, where she received a crash course in an electric go-kart, before she steps up to the real thing.
Serage’s instructor was two-time New Zealand Grand Prix winner, ex-Toyota Racing Series champion and Supercars driver Daniel Gaunt, who owns and operates Game Over, while Kiwi drifter Mad Mike’s advice has also been sought and accepted.
“I felt good, Dan from Game Over was giving me tips,” she said after her first practice session. “We did some great laps, I was following behind him and learning apexes.
“I feel more pumped-up and more ready than ever. Electric cars are faster than petrol ones, [but] once I feel the petrol ones, I think I’ll be quite ready.
“I feel more pumped-up and more ready than ever,” Taylor Serage said. Photo / Annaleise Shortland
“I’ve done a little bit of preparation. We have a simulator that I’ve set up for Silverstone. That’s going to help me prepare, knowing what I’m looking at when I get there.
“I’ve never been to Silverstone before, this is my first long-haul flight ever.”
Feeling ready is one thing, attempting to stop Verstappen winning is another entirely.
The 28-year-old Dutch star is already among the greatest to ever drive in Formula One, with four drivers championships, 71 race wins and 131 podium finishes from his 12 seasons to date, and more in the pipeline after extending his contract to the end of 2030.
Naturally, then, racing against a host of non-professional drivers should be a walk in the park for the Dutchman.
As far as Serage is concerned, though, her job is to start as high up the field as she can and, at the very least, make it difficult for Verstappen to overtake her.
Max Verstappen (left) celebrates his second-placed finish at the Austrian Grand Prix. Photo / Photosport
“There’s qualifying, so my goal is to make it as far as I can in that,” she said.
“When he does come up – which he will, he’s Max Verstappen – I’m going to try and have a little battle to keep on the driving line and see what I can do.
“I do think he’ll overtake me, that’s inevitable, but I definitely want to have a fun interaction with him.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.