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.
 
Have a hug Kewee .
This has raised an issue. What do other people do to take their mind of things.
This is obviously the wrong thread for it, so can someone please move it to wherever it belongs. Thanks.
LOL
 
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Thank you very much for your kind thoughts Greenlantern101, I've also enjoyed our debates and hope they continue. I am a fighter and will always fight this, never good to feel sorry for myself otherwise my troubles could swallow me up. I'm doing quite well and have discovered something that's hugely helpful. I know this is off topic but it may help anyone who's been diagnosed with Parkinson's. Specialists globally have known for some time that cycling is very good for Parkinson sufferers, a new discovery for me. I always loved cycling, but the other nasty I was diagnosed with, spinal arthritis meant selling my sports bike, damn. I've now bought an electric European style step through with an upright riding position. It takes the weight off my back and keeps my spine straight. No pain and I can ride for miles, hills and wind don't matter with a bit of electric help. The belief is the rhythmic motion of peddling reprograms the portion of the brain that controls movement. All I know is the improvements I experience are incredible and continue right through the day following a bike ride. I love my new bike, cheers Greenlantern101. :cheers:
 
Wow Max Verstappen, a racing god from 16th to 4th. Incredible, no other driver could have achieved that in the Red Bull. Greatest of all time, already?
No surprise that Red Bull was desperate to extended his contract until 2020.
 
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