Max Verstappen made his debut in a formula one car on Tuesday. The well-connected Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf claims Red Bull, having newly signed the 16-year-old son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, has targeted October's Japanese grand prix as a potential first official outing for Max in 2014.
That is despite Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost saying at Spa that Verstappen's first Friday practice outings will only be in "Austin, Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi". But Red Bull may now be speeding up the teenager's already-accelerated F1 programme even more. "Max is in England for a brief introduction," Max's father Jos is quoted as saying.
He is referring to an outing for Verstappen at Rockingham, at the wheel Red Bull's title-winning 2011 car, in Toro Rosso livery. It is a shakedown ahead of a forthcoming demonstration event in Rotterdam. "It (the Rockingham debut) is not a test," Verstappen's father said. "Today (Tuesday) he is driving back and forth on the straight to get used to a formula one car."
Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko confirmed: "Everything went well. Max did everything right, but I expected nothing else. When you talk to Max, you realise quickly that he is a confident young man who knows exactly what he is doing," he told Bild.
But even Red Bull's very own Sebastian Vettel, who made his F1 debut as a teenager, has described Verstappen's age and experience as "borderline". "There is some sort of limit and Max is very young," the German said on a visit to Sochi this week to try the new Russian grand prix layout. "I guess he should go to school, but he is not going to have much time for that next year! He already has a lot of racing experience, and his talent is obvious," continued Vettel. "So why shouldn't he be in formula one?" (GMM)
Max Verstappen tipped for first Friday outing at Suzuka
- Published on 27 Aug 2014 09:59
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
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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
- 1:16.348
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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
- 1:31.992
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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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
Driver profile
- Team Red Bull Racing
- Points 3,557
- Podiums 131
- Grand Prix 245
- Country NL
- Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
- Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
- Weight 70 kg
- Length 1.8 m
- 843,043 comments on Red Bull Racing
983 members have this team as their favourite
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