Toro Rosso has confirmed reports Max Verstappen will become F1's youngest ever race driver next year. The teenage Dutchman, whose father Jos drove for Toro Rosso's former guise Minardi just over a decade ago, will replace team veteran Jean-Eric Vergne in 2015. Team boss Franz Tost thanked Frenchman Vergne for his "hard work" since his 2012 debut and tipped him to "show that he still deserves another opportunity in formula one".
It is also bad news for Carlos Sainz jr, who was previously the favourite to be Russian Daniil Kvyat's next teammate. "Many people asking which way I'm going to take," Spaniard Sainz said on Twitter after the Verstappen news broke, "and I say the same as since the start of the year -- hard work, perseverance and the (World Series by Renault) title!" Vergne, 24, is yet to comment.
The news was first announced late on Monday by Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko on Austrian television Servus TV. Marko said Verstappen, who will be 17 when he makes his record-breaking F1 debut next March, will be with Toro Rosso at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend but only to observe. "After the formula 3 season is finished," Marko said, "his programme will intensify. We will organise a 300 kilometre test for him to obtain the super license," he added.
It is rumoured Verstappen might then make his grand prix weekend debut late this season, perhaps in Austin, Brazil or Abu Dhabi, during Friday morning practice sessions. "It was not difficult for us and every top team as well to realise what an extraordinary talent he is. We are very proud that he has joined Red Bull," said Marko.
"Max is the sort of driver who can start straight away in formula one. There are not many who have managed the transition from karting to formula 3 so well. He does not need more experience in the other junior classes," Marko insisted. (GMM)
Free practice debut in 2014 possible for Max Verstappen
- Published on 19 Aug 2014 08:28
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
4 - Sep 6
Italy
Monza
Driver profile
- Team Red Bull Racing
- Points 3,572
- Podiums 132
- Grand Prix 246
- Country NL
- Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
- Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
- Weight 70 kg
- Length 1.8 m
- 844,334 comments on Red Bull Racing
983 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Max Verstappen
Team profile
- Team name Renault
- Base Enstone, France
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 5
- Fernando Alonso 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Fernando Alonso 8
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Jenson Button 15
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 236,941 comments on Renault
- 26 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Renault
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