Seventeen-year-old 12th fastest after mature display in Toro Rosso
Friday 3 October 2014 10:02, UK
Max Verstappen was all smiles after becoming F1’s youngest ever driver at the Japanese GP on Friday.
The Dutch youngster only turned 17 at the start of the week but gave a mature display on his debut for Toro Rosso, setting the 12th fastest time in P1.
Verstappen didn’t appear to put a wheel out of place, although his outing was clouded by an engine problem which forced him to pull off track in the closing minutes.
Even so, he managed 22 valuable laps as he starts to build experience ahead of next year’s planned race debut.
“I was not even close to the limit,” Verstappen told reporters afterwards. “I was just driving safely without doing any crazy stuff, so for me the main thing today was just to try and make a lot of laps.”
No boy racer attitude, then. Nevertheless, Verstappen, who was still racing karts this time last year, ended the session only 0.4seconds slower than regular driver Daniil Kvyat.
The son of former F1 driver Jos stressed that headline times were not the objective. “I was just making laps, getting used to the car, getting used to the track because it’s not an easy track,” Verstappen insisted.
“But when I saw the time on the screens I was happy.”
Verstappen starred in the Formula 3 European Championship – his only experience of racing cars to date – earlier this year.
He’s also had brief outings in two-year-old Red Bull and Toro Rosso cars since his promotion was announced but said the switch to a 2014 hybrid was something else again.
“It’s really useful. It helps you a lot to get better prepared for next year,” said Verstappen, who also hopes to run in Austin, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
“The biggest challenge was just getting used to the car really. It’s a bit different to the 2012 car.
“All the systems, you have to get used to it and try to do the applications, they’re different. And then you have to work with the whole team with all the buttons on the steering wheel. That’s new for me as well.”
But that’s not to suggest Verstappen couldn’t cope. “The younger generation, you grow up with it – all that kind of stuff. You play it manys time on the Playstation and then you can also see all the buttons.”
World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who made his own practice debut aged 19 in 2006, joked on Thursday that he might have been young at the time but at least he could drive himself to the track.
That’s not the case for Verstappen – not in Belgium at least, where he lives, and where he hopes to take his driving test just as soon as he gets the chance.
“I can take it now but then I’m only allowed to drive in Belgium with somebody next to me who’s older than 25,” he explained.
“It doesn’t make any sense; maybe in Spa only. But when I’m 18 I can take it.”
Verstappen’s fast-track to the top has inevitably stoked debate about just how young is too young in F1.
But where does the youngster himself think the line should be drawn? “Fourteen, I think,” he deadpanned.
“I think the age doesn’t make any difference. I think when you’re ready for it, and they prepare you well, age is just a number.”
The 2014 Japanese GP is live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Extensive coverage of Race Day at Suzuka begins at 5.30am on Sunday with lights out at 7am.
