Dutch teenager Max Verstappen is Formula One’s youngest ever driver after being signed to Red Bull sister club Toro Rosso.
The 16-year-old, who will be 17 next month, is still too young to drive on public roads in his home country and will have experienced only a year of single seater racing when he makes his first grid appearance in 2015.
“He proved in various races that he can use his head. I had quite a few conversations with him and there you can see how mature he is,” motorsport consultant to Red Bull, Helmut Marko, said.
“Toro Rosso is well known for educating and training young drivers, so he comes into (that) environment … I think he’ll go into the season well prepared. We can’t see any risk doing it like that.”
The previous youngest Formula One driver was Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, who also made his debut with Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso in 2009 as a 19-year-old.
Before him, Kimi Raikkonen was a controversial signing by Sauber at the age of 21 in 2001 with only 23 single seater races to his credit but the Finn went on to become 2007 world champion with Ferrari.
“I’m a relaxed guy, I will handle it,” the European Formula Three title contender told BBC radio. “I think the biggest step I had was karting to F3. I think F3 to F1 will be a smaller step.”
Verstappen’s 2015 teammate will be 19-year-old Russian Daniil Kvyat, who became the sport’s youngest ever points scorer on his debut this season.
Toro Rosso’s announcement is sure to be a major talking point in the paddock at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Source: AAP