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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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Australia
Albert Park
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Driver profile
- Team Red Bull Racing
- Points 3,521
- Podiums 129
- Grand Prix 242
- Country NL
- Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
- Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
- Weight 70 kg
- Length 1.8 m
- 839,991 comments on Red Bull Racing
983 members have this team as their favourite
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- 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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