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Verstappen has no problem with age controversy

Verstappen has no problem with age controversy

  • Published on 11 Dec 2014 10:38
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
F1's youngest ever driver Max Verstappen is expecting controversy about his age and experience to continue for now. At just over 17 years of age, the young Dutchman raised eyebrows when backer Red Bull announced that after just a single year of single-seater racing, he would debut for Toro Rosso in 2015.

Less than a year out of karts, Verstappen already made history in 2014 when he began to appear in Friday morning practice sessions, smashing the former record held by Sebastian Vettel who began practicing for BMW in 2009 at the age of 19.

The controversy about Verstappen's age and inexperience even elicited a response from the governing FIA, who now intend to set a minimum age of 18 for new drivers from 2016 and a range of other tougher qualifying conditions for a super license. Speaking to Italy's Autosprint, even Verstappen himself admitted he was surprised by just how quickly he graduated from karts in 2013 to the F1 paddock less than a year later.

"Last winter," he admitted, "the plan was to stay for two years in Formula 3 and then decide what to do. Then I started getting very good results immediately and from there many things happened very quickly," said Verstappen. "I definitely didn't expect it to happen as it did. At first I wondered if I have what it takes to do it. I analysed it and realised that I did."

Nevertheless, he says he understands the controversy surrounding his meteoric rise and expects it to continue for some time yet. "Honestly I don't have any problem with what has been said," Verstappen explained, "and those sorts of things will probably continue for a while still.

"So far I've had the chance to get on track in formula one for three free practice sessions and I have not got involved in accidents, unlike some other drivers," he added. "I'm adapting gradually, without rushing, but the laptimes I have done have already been positive," said Verstappen. (GMM)
F1 News Max Verstappen Sebastian Vettel
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Driver profile

NL Max Verstappen 33
Max Verstappen
  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (23)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.80 m
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Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy
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30 - May 2
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
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Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
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Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
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Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy
Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil
Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia
Albert Park
3 - Dec 5
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
21 - May 23
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
11 - Jun 13
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
25 - Jun 27
France Paul Ricard
2 - Jul 4
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia Albert Park
3 - Dec 5
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
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United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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