Max Verstappen to Race for Toro Rosso

Max Verstappen to Race for Toro Rosso

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Allyc85

Original Poster:

7,225 posts

185 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Just seen Red Bull report on twitter that Max Verstappen is to race for Toro Rosso next season! Bit soon for the lad?

Mini1275

11,098 posts

181 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115435

Autosport said:
Max Verstappen will race in Formula 1 at the age of 17 when he joins the Toro Rosso team next year, the Red Bull-owned squad announced on Monday.

The Dutchman, currently competing in the Formula 3 European Championship, will join Russian Daniil Kvyat, replacing Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.

Verstappen, the son of former grand prix driver Jos, had joined the Red Bull F1 junior programme just last week.

He has won seven F3 races in his maiden season of car racing, having competing in karting until last year.

As revealed by AUTOSPORT earlier this month, he had been linked with the Mercedes F1 junior programme as well.

Verstappen will become the youngest ever driver to be on the F1 grid when he races in next year's Australian Grand Prix.

"Ever since I was seven years old, Formula 1 has been my career goal, so this opportunity is truly a dream come true," said Verstappen.

His team-mate Kvyat made his debut this year at the age of 19.

"We are happy to welcome Max into the Toro Rosso family," said team boss Franz Tost.

"It's great to see how the Red Bull Junior Programme continues to find talented young drivers and gives them the opportunity to come into Formula 1.

"We consider Max to be as one of the most skilled young drivers of the new generation and we believe he has the necessary maturity and mental strength to take on this challenge successfully."

The news means Vergne's future in Formula 1 will depend on finding a drive elsewhere.

"I would also like to thank Jean-Eric Vergne for all his hard work," added Tost.

"He has produced strong performances, but unfortunately he was also hindered by some reliability problems, especially in the first half of the current season.

"We hope that we have resolved these problems and that he will be able to end the second half of this season on a high note and thereby show that he still deserves another opportunity in Formula 1."



There's no doubting the kid has talent, but I'd have thought 17 was way too early to jump straight into an F1 car.

Considering this is his first year racing cars and that he hasn't even tested an F1 car, it all seems very premature.

Time will tell.

CharlesAL

532 posts

123 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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So what was the point in Red Bull signing Carlos Sainz jr and Alex Lynn? As far as I can tell they've done nothing wrong. Sainz is leading the Formula Renault 3.5 standings by quite a way, likewise Lynn in GP3.

What's the point of the Red Bull FR3.5 and GP3 teams?

This is madness. It's obvious that he could be the next big thing, but to move him up to F1 so soon is ridiculous when they've already got other good drivers who are more prepared.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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CharlesAL said:
So what was the point in Red Bull signing Carlos Sainz jr and Alex Lynn? As far as I can tell they've done nothing wrong. Sainz is leading the Formula Renault 3.5 standings by quite a way, likewise Lynn in GP3.

What's the point of the Red Bull FR3.5 and GP3 teams?

This is madness. It's obvious that he could be the next big thing, but to move him up to F1 so soon is ridiculous when they've already got other good drivers who are more prepared.
Very good points.

When these kids pop up out of nowhere, there's always something we're missing from the reasoning. Common sense and logic tells you that there just have to be better prepared prospects yet they all fall by the wayside.

Do these kids have some unearthly ability? Not ever been evident yet, and hardly needed in today's F1 cars anyway.

....and in Max's case it can't be inherited. wink

team underdog

938 posts

228 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Verstappen in at STR and I see Caterham are speaking to Andre Lotterer... those F1 bosses must have had too much sangria during the break!! I must be missing something!

As others have said, why so early and what message does this send about the other Red Bull drivers such as Da Costa and Lynn?

I thought they were brave with Kvyat at 19 but have to say he's a standout of the season HOWEVER Max Verstappen is still in his first year of cars! Why not put him in WSR next year and give him some time to learn? The world of F1 may well swallow him up just like Alguersuari (remember him?).

I can only think that these decisions are either based on marketing considerations or secret simulator shoot outs that the teams conduct and analyse. Either way, bizarre decision IMO.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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I don't think they've ever been 100% about Sainz, much in the same way Da Costa fell from grace. They usually support those that fail to make the grade for a further year.

Max is clearly quick, but why put him under that much pressure in only his second season in single seaters? But then the same was said about Raikkonen....

Where this leaves Alex,I don't know. I'd assume that he could be an insurance policy or perhaps move up if Kvyat takes Vettel's seat in 2016? Although Alex is a 'veteran' by Red Bull standards!!!

Ocon is quick but has a terrible attitude when he doesn't win. He's a Gravity driver too, so must have a chance at Lotus.

Shame that Blomqvist was stiffed by being placed by Marko with his mates at EuroInternational. That cost him his place on the programme.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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I don't think they've ever been 100% about Sainz, much in the same way Da Costa fell from grace. They usually support those that fail to make the grade for a further year.

Max is clearly quick, but why put him under that much pressure in only his second season in single seaters? But then the same was said about Raikkonen....

Where this leaves Alex,I don't know. I'd assume that he could be an insurance policy or perhaps move up if Kvyat takes Vettel's seat in 2016? Although Alex is a 'veteran' by Red Bull standards!!!

Ocon is quick but has a terrible attitude when he doesn't win. He's a Gravity driver too, so must have a chance at Lotus.

Shame that Blomqvist was stiffed by being placed by Marko with his mates at EuroInternational. That cost him his place on the programme.

Bradgate

2,819 posts

146 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Will he have to finish his homework before Friday practice sessions?

fatboy69

9,371 posts

186 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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What an odd decision.

An F1 driver at 17? Not sure it's a good thing for either him or for F1 in general.

As for his career - potentially over by his 20th birthday unless he proves to be an exceptional talent.

Also feel sorry for JEV. Worked his balls off only to be replaced by a kid!!!!

F1 - never fails to amaze.

speedysoprano

224 posts

118 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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Well, Red Bull's young driver programme has produced Vettel and Ricciardo (while still relatively unproven, he certainly looks like a superstar in the making). I think they know a thing or two.

That said, I was pretty shocked that they're putting Max Verstappen in a Toro Rosso at the age of 17. I guess we'll see whether it was a good idea or not.

thegreenhell

15,115 posts

218 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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F1 cars must be far too easy to drive if someone can be promoted to the sport after having only driven in cars, of any kind, for just half a season.

entropy

5,403 posts

202 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Yesteryear one would graduate to F1 via karting - FF - F3; F3000 was for 'lesser' drivers to doddle around whilst hunting F1 contracts.

As someone (and I'm sure I'm not the only one) who has little interest in saturated junior formulae/ladder system could you expand on your views:

rubystone said:
I don't think they've ever been 100% about Sainz, much in the same way Da Costa fell from grace. They usually support those that fail to make the grade for a further year.
Perhaps not a great indicator of 'talent' but Da Costa hasn't made an impact in DTM compared to Paffet or Di Resta.

Petrus1983

8,521 posts

161 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Playing Devils Advocate - could it be that the new 'computer generation' are finding it easier?

CharlesAL

532 posts

123 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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thegreenhell said:
F1 cars must be far too easy to drive if someone can be promoted to the sport after having only driven in cars, of any kind, for just half a season.
A driver already did that in 2001. F1 after 20-odd car races.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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One view - he's much too young, can't possibly be ready, etc

Another view - highly experienced people with access to a lot of data have taken brave but calculated risk on a very young driver.

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Vaud said:
One view - he's much too young, can't possibly be ready, etc

Another view - highly experienced people with access to a lot of data have taken brave but calculated risk on a very young driver.
Correct. Whilst I was surprised at this, the Red Bull Academy has produced Vettel, Ricciardo and Kyvat. It has also seen plenty of drivers who were given an opportunity but did not find that critical n'th degree to become a true topliner. Alguesari, Buemi, Speed, Klien etc.

Tost/Marko and the Red Bull engineers know a lot more about what makes a champion that I do, so I trust them when they see more in Max than Sainz or Lynn.

At this level, it's a cruel world. To think that Vergne and Ricciardo were neck and neck for the RBR drive a year ago.....

...I hope JEV gets an opportunity at Sauber, Lotus or Williams....or even a RBR reserve seat. He's too good to cast away.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Vaud said:
One view - he's much too young, can't possibly be ready, etc

Another view - highly experienced people with access to a lot of data have taken brave but calculated risk on a very young driver.
That's the point though. they cant have that much data. Not real data. And not in comparison with their other proteges, so if this is a sound decision what does it say about their opinion of those others?


PhillipM

6,515 posts

188 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Petrus1983 said:
Playing Devils Advocate - could it be that the new 'computer generation' are finding it easier?
Quite probably, computer games do tend to sharpen reflexes and the quality of modern track renditions in games and simulators means experience isn't as big a barrier to youth as it once was, it's also a lot faster for them to get used to the changes different setups can make to a car.

And frankly, where better to get the experience than the cars you'll be racing for the majority of your career? At least there's no preconceptions from other race series/cars to get rid of first.


Edited by PhillipM on Tuesday 19th August 09:17

Pwig

11,956 posts

269 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Anyone see Taki Inoue's tweets regarding this today? hehe

Lost soul

8,712 posts

181 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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REALIST123 said:
....and in Max's case it can't be inherited. wink
His Dad did not exactly set the world on fire did he , well that's not exactly true but you know what I mean biggrin