Max Verstappen to Race for Toro Rosso

Max Verstappen to Race for Toro Rosso

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FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Oh dear................

Teenagers, his mum will never let him borrow the car again now. At least it didn't spontaneously combust as well, like his dad's Benetton.

Agent Orange

2,194 posts

245 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Allyc85 said:
Oh dear if you were to think of the worst thing to happen in your first ever public demo that has to be right up there. Hopefully he came put this behind him very quickly.

I was listening to an interview with Jos the other day, annoyingly cannot recall where, and reading between the lines his seat in F1 makes more sense now. Basically seemed Jos wasn't planning Max to be in F1 yet but the deals with other teams tracking him weren't so favourable and Torro Rosso offered him an immediate seat where as others were wait and see.

F1 entry is as much about timing and luck as skill. For example Susie Wolf makes no apologies that her being married to Totto has definitely worked in her favour to get a seat. But as she also says whilst that opened the door people don't hire you unless you are any good.

So would seem for Max the timing was a bit of a shock but that once offered you don't refuse as you may never get that offer again.

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Bradgate said:
Coulthard has commented on Verstappen in his Torygraph column. He agrees with Massa that the physical demands of driving an F1 car have reduced so much that a 17 year old could now drive one.

Is this what we really want our heroes to be?
Good points raised here. cars are a doddle to operate compared to those in the past.

Yes, the size and stature of many recent F1 drivers is considerably reduced compared to those in the past. When the likes of Suzie P, Lee Mck and Louise Goodman interview drivers, these ladies tower above some of them ... Amuses me when someone like Button stands alongside other drivers he looks like a giant when obviously he is not.

Same is true with many modern Motorcycle GP riders. Listening to some commentators about the current crop, one of which has impressively won all the races so far this season bar one, he posed the question is this the best rider of all time?

My thoughts are no way. The Silverstone Moto GP was a mere twenty lap sprint and all over in a few minutes. Could the winner do six 37.7 mile laps of the Isle-of-Man TT course on a single cylinder machine and average over 100mph as the likes of Hailwood et al did back in the 1950-60s. No way. They would be exhausted after a few laps of that most demanding of courses as lightweight usually means lack of stamina.

Creates a false impression and most era comparisons are invalid for various obvious reasons.

NRS

22,078 posts

200 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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Allyc85 said:
Trying to work out what happened there. It seemed to be very slow, so either his brakes were useless due to being cold, or something seemed to go wrong?

groomi

9,317 posts

242 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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NRS said:
Trying to work out what happened there. It seemed to be very slow, so either his brakes were useless due to being cold, or something seemed to go wrong?
I'm guessing he might have got caught out by anti-stall?

chevronb37

6,471 posts

185 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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MGJohn said:
Bradgate said:
Coulthard has commented on Verstappen in his Torygraph column. He agrees with Massa that the physical demands of driving an F1 car have reduced so much that a 17 year old could now drive one.

Is this what we really want our heroes to be?
Good points raised here. cars are a doddle to operate compared to those in the past.

Yes, the size and stature of many recent F1 drivers is considerably reduced compared to those in the past. When the likes of Suzie P, Lee Mck and Louise Goodman interview drivers, these ladies tower above some of them ... Amuses me when someone like Button stands alongside other drivers he looks like a giant when obviously he is not.

Same is true with many modern Motorcycle GP riders. Listening to some commentators about the current crop, one of which has impressively won all the races so far this season bar one, he posed the question is this the best rider of all time?

My thoughts are no way. The Silverstone Moto GP was a mere twenty lap sprint and all over in a few minutes. Could the winner do six 37.7 mile laps of the Isle-of-Man TT course on a single cylinder machine and average over 100mph as the likes of Hailwood et al did back in the 1950-60s. No way. They would be exhausted after a few laps of that most demanding of courses as lightweight usually means lack of stamina.

Creates a false impression and most era comparisons are invalid for various obvious reasons.
I would hesitate to denigrate one era of riders or drivers because they do something different to a previous era.

I’m no motorcycle expert (crikey, I’ve only been to five specific bike meetings in my life) but I’ve studied the riders and would rather hesitate to criticise Marquez because he hasn’t done a Senior TT. The current MotoGP calendar calls only for short circuits and he’s won 90% of the races this year on short circuits. I’d say in terms of his ability to perform in his chosen field, he’s exceptional. He can only achieve within the framework he has. Oh and his lap after he passed Lorenzo was exceptional. By far the best lap I’ve ever seen from the trackside.

I would also hesitate to say he couldn’t complete a Senior TT because he’s small. Stuart Graham and John Surtees are both tiny and both seemed to do OK around the Isle of Man.

It’s akin to saying that Hamilton would never have excelled around the old Spa, Charade, or wherever. He’s never been afforded the opportunity so how can we say? Personally I think there best of any given era are the best full stop. They excel within the constraints that they are given and that’s that. I’m sure if Hamilton had to do ten hours flat out around the Mille Miglia then he’d find a way of training himself to do it.

Anyway, Verstappen. I wish him all the best and truly hope the opportunity doesn’t ruin a potentially exceptional career.

Redlake27

2,255 posts

243 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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Sorry to spoil the fun by being an anorak, but what is that car?

It is a Toro Rosso livery, but looks like a 2011 or 2012 Red Bull, (presumably as all the old Toro Rosso's were Ferrari powered and therefore not able to run now it is a Renault team)

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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It's a 2012 RB8 here's a different clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYlBeawGn6s

You can see the nose better on that one.

Mini1275

11,098 posts

181 months

Wednesday 10th September 2014
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Max completed his first test today in a Formula One car and was impressive, according to Toro Rosso:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115799

Autosport said:
Toro Rosso has praised new signing Max Verstappen for the job he did in his first proper test for his new squad at Adria on Wednesday.

The Dutch teenager completed 148 laps of the 1.7-mile Italian circuit, comfortably racking up the necessary mileage to qualify for a Formula 1 superlicence in one of Toro Rosso's 2012 STR7s.

The 16-year-old's first runs were completed on intermediate tyres on a damp track, but conditions improved enough for the Dutchman to switch to slicks later on.

He drove a mixture of a long and short runs and also practiced race pitstops and starts.

Xevi Pujolar, who will be Verstappen's race engineer for his rookie campaign next season, said: "He was very focused and precise and learned quickly, without having to ask many questions.

"Once we were able to fit slicks, he got used to the car in the dry and built up his speed, while we tried various fuel levels, replicating both qualifying and race trim.

"For a first day, it was very impressive."

The team's sporting director Steve Nielsen added: "Max did a very competent job, giving the impression he has been driving a Formula 1 car for quite a while, not like someone on their first day behind the wheel.

"He made no mistakes all day, seemed confident, and once he was told something he remembered it.

"In general, he coped very well."

Verstappen is expected to make his free practice debut for the team before this season is through, as well as taking part in the post-season collective test in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking about his Adria test, Verstappen said: "I was looking forward to my first drive in a Formula 1 car on a proper race track and I really enjoyed it.

"It was a good opportunity to work with Xevi, who will be my race engineer next year, as well as having a chance to get used to all the buttons on the steering wheel.

"I think it went well and I can't wait to get back into a Formula 1 car as soon as possible."



Looking forward to seeing how he stacks up against other drivers later on in the year.

Agent Orange

2,194 posts

245 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
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Mini1275 said:
Max completed his first test today in a Formula One car and was impressive, according to Toro Rosso:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115799

Looking forward to seeing how he stacks up against other drivers later on in the year.
Interesting. Although I wouldn't expect them to say he had a bad test Helmet Marco has been saying to anyone who'll listen that he's often 2 seconds a lap quicker than his rivals. Could we be witnessing the beginning of a truly fine talent?

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
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Agent Orange said:
Mini1275 said:
Max completed his first test today in a Formula One car and was impressive, according to Toro Rosso:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115799

Looking forward to seeing how he stacks up against other drivers later on in the year.
Interesting. Although I wouldn't expect them to say he had a bad test Helmet Marco has been saying to anyone who'll listen that he's often 2 seconds a lap quicker than his rivals. Could we be witnessing the beginning of a truly fine talent?
I agree, I don't ever remember anyone saying someone had a poor test, this report seems par for the course.

As for being 2 seconds a lap faster than his rivals, there must be some pretty poor drivers in the series if they can't get within two seconds of an achievable time. I doubt that Max is superhuman.

Time will tell.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Thursday 11th September 2014
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Agent Orange said:
Marco has been saying to anyone who'll listen that he's often 2 seconds a lap quicker than his rivals. Could we be witnessing the beginning of a truly fine talent?
Bullst - only when he's spun and is having to catch the field. Ocon and Blomqvist are right up there with him on pace.

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2015
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Remember the video of Ricardo Patrese taking his wife out on a track day?

Max driving his dad Jos around Spa, with less shouting, although if Jos is you can't hear him over the engine, but look at the eyes. Max doesn't blink, ever, and Jos looks like he's feeling it a bit hehe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7T44IMXGD4

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2015
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he blinks regularly

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2015
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Yes, thanks for that. Obviously.

ajprice

27,314 posts

195 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
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Max has passed his driving test, after 5 hours of lessons
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34404662

Here he is in Monaco, in a Clio with his dad hehe . https://youtu.be/OUT_yuFB3uc

He's also now old enough to drink champagne on the podium.

Vaud

50,285 posts

154 months

Thursday 1st October 2015
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ajprice said:
He's also now old enough to drink champagne on the podium.
He was already old enough in many countries... wink

dinkel

26,884 posts

257 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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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.
Funny to read back the comments.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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dinkel said:
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.
Funny to read back the comments.

Why? The one you quote still remains valid, I'm sure others do too.

thegreenhell

15,108 posts

218 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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dinkel said:
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.
Funny to read back the comments.
I stand by my previous comments, perhaps even more so now given his relative success.