Current Max Verstappen

2015 sees the arrival of the youngest driver ever to sit in an F1 car. Max Verstappen was born on 30th September 1997 and, assuming he makes the grid in Australia, will only be 17 years and 167 days, beating Jaime Alguersuaris' record by 1 year and 323 days (assuming my maths is correct).

How can such a young man be ready for F1? As the son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen Max started racing karts at 4½ years old. In 2006 he won the Belgian Minimax Championship in the KF5 category and in 2007 he won both the Dutch and Belgian titles as well as the Belgian Cadet Championship.

In 2009 he won the KF5 Flemish Championship and moved up to International Karting. In 2010 Max finished 2nd in the KF3 World Cup, won the Euro Series and the WSK World Series. In 2011 he again won the WSK World Series and moved up the KF2 class winning the WSK Master Series and the South Garda Winter Cup in 2012. In 2013, at 15 years of age, Verstappen won the World KZ Championship, which is highest level of karting.

For 2014 Max moved up to European Formula 3. He finished 3rd in the Championship winning 10 of the 33 races, more than those who finished above him in the title race. Max was recruited into the Red Bull Young Driver Programme in August 2014 and only 6 days later was announced as one of the drivers for Toro Rosso in F1 for 2015. Apparently he was also being courted by Mercedes for their young driver programme so you have to wonder how much the pull of an F1 seat at Toro Rosso drove the decision to go with Red Bull.

Having already taken part in 3 Friday sessions as a test driver Max Verstappen is the youngest person ever to take part in a Grand Prix weekend. If he acquits himself well during 2015 many will say it is an inspired decision. If he turns into a mobile chicane or treats F1 like a destruction derby I'm sure many questions will be asked as to why someone not even old enough to qualify for a driving licence in his home country is allowed to get behind the wheel of a car at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Future Champion? One season (or even one race) wonder? 2015 will be very interesting for Max Verstappen.
 
Take a bow Max Verstappen, i said in mexico you have to take rough with smooth with max Verstappen with being in his 2nd yr of F1 & 3rd yr of single seaters, if mexico was rough that was smooth. truly special up there with greats that ive watched Lewis 08 & Jenson 12, (+ others that were before my times like senna Monaco 84 donington 93 & Schumacher 96)
 
Bah, let's see if he can do that when everyone else is on the same age of tyre.
RIC couldn't.

How much does a full wet suffer in these conditions anyway?


Edit: OVertaking 13 cars in what, 16 laps? Isn't that some kind of record on it's own?
 
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It was a fine drive for sure, and worthy of praise. But the circumstances of the pitstop meant there was always going to be a lot of overtaking. I heard several comments from drivers concerned about the loss of tread depth on old tyres, and this was referred to by Brundle in commentary also. So of course it was an advantage.

For me, the driver of the day was Hamilton - both quick and error-free. Max nearly stuck it in the wall trying to keep up.

Edit: OVertaking 13 cars in what, 16 laps? Isn't that some kind of record on it's own?

No (actually it was 12 cars in 15 laps). Vettel passed 16 cars in the first 15 racing laps in Shanghai this year; and that's only the most recent example.
 
I certainly enjoyed Mad Max's charge but it so nearly ended in tears (for both) when he rode the curbs to squeeze past Perez. At that point that work was basically done too, as he was never going to get Rosberg.

This kid promises to keep things interesting for a good many years. (going out on a limb, I know :whistle:)
 
I certainly enjoyed Mad Max's charge but it so nearly ended in tears (for both) when he rode the curbs to squeeze past Perez.

But that's just where his strength is. He is in control at places where we think drivers can't be in control. He knew the back end was going to step out and he caught it perfectly without losing acceleration.
 
For me, the driver of the day was Hamilton - both quick and error-free. Max nearly stuck it in the wall trying to keep up.

Happened to others as well, including a former world champion. Max was the only one to keep it out of the wall. He could have taken it easy and settled for P2. We would have seen quite a boring race if he did that.

And Hamilton did a perfect race indeed. But he is comfortable in these conditions like Max is, but he is in the best car and in front, so that makes it a bit easier.


No (actually it was 12 cars in 15 laps). Vettel passed 16 cars in the first 15 racing laps in Shanghai this year; and that's only the most recent example.

ok, thanks. :)
 
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