Max Verstappen to Race for Toro Rosso

[Dominic H]

CharlesAL 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.

A driver already did that in 2001. F1 after 20-odd car races.

And that turned out ok, though he was 20 when he debuted.

[Ian Lancs]

Pwig said:

Anyone see Taki Inoue's tweets regarding this today?

He has a way with words!

[mistakenplane]

I feel for JEV. He's done little wrong!

[GruntyDC5]

Both Merc and Redbull want him. Obviously has huge talent and is expected to be the next big thing. Red Bull have a feeder team, Merc don't, so to ensure they get him they give him an F1 drive. Surely worth the risk to get him if he really is as good as everyone expects.

[williamp]

Maybe its a bit of free press for the red bull team before is weekends grand prix? Maybe abatgenning chip for the drivers.

Im not sure hed get a locence anyhow. Mind you, riccardo rodriguex was on the le mans podium at 18, and in F1 at 19. And dead at 20.

[andyps]

In a way for me this undermines the whole principle of F1 being the pinnacle of motorsport. If you can be at the top level in your chosen profession at the age of 17 what does that mean? I know drivers start at much younger ages in all the various feeder series starting with karting but in my view it isn't right to be able to get to F1 at the age of 17 - maybe there need to be more steps in the ladder. Also, if a 17year old gets a drive what happens to anyone who is 18 and still not made it to F1, should they give up?

[PhillipM]

That's been the case for a long time, if you weren't karting as a kid - feck off, waste of time starting now.

And yes, it's a sport, which like many sports relies on fitness and reaction times, so younger drivers are at an advantage.

[thatguy11]

It compromises F1's image and integrity when a 16 year old manages to get a seat. it makes it look easy, "if a 16 year old kid can do it....". F1 drivers should be men, not boys. Surely the junior series are for junior drivers, and F1 (maybe even GP2 too) as a senior series, should be for older and more experienced drivers? Ok, there's obviously going to be some overlap, but a 17 year old (by Australia 2015) with a race seat in F1? It just seems a bit too far.

I wish him all the best, but I think a lot of the more experienced drivers on the grid will be wary of him on track. You can be quick in an F1 car at 17 through talent, but racing and racecraft is totally different. It takes maturity and experience to learn, and i just don't know if a 17 year old has the mentality.

[RacerMike]

Christ, the standard of driving is pretty terrible in that video! I know they're only young, but some of the those moves would be optimistic on a good day!

[oldtimer2]

It is a matter of survival of the fittest and the quickest. My query would be about his physical readiness to take on the g forces involved coupled with the longer duration of F1 races. Physical maturity comes much later - mid 20s or later as is evident in other physically demanding sports. I guess the Red Bull attitude is that he is expendable if he does not make the grade as there are plenty more itching to get a drive.

[em177]

Ian Lancs said:

Pwig said:

Anyone see Taki Inoue's tweets regarding this today?

He has a way with words!

Don't have twitter, can you post a screenshot?

[rubystone]

entropy said:

Perhaps not a great indicator of 'talent' but Da Costa hasn't made an impact in DTM compared to Paffet or Di Resta.

It takes a long time for any single seater driver to master that - no F1 driver has succeeded and most talk about the knife edge aero on those cars.

[rubystone]

em177 said:

Don't have twitter, can you post a screenshot?

he talked about what he was doing at age 16 - a classic....

[suffolk009]

As Brundle once said of some wonder-kid in his first season, "It's very difficult to get into an F1 seat. Then it's much harder to stay there."

[jazzdevil]

fatboy69 said:

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.

Couldn't agree more.

Announcing so early is also pretty damning for JEV - what is his motivation to perform for a team that are telling him he's sacked nearly 5mths before the end of his contract!

[bishbash]

em177 said:

Don't have twitter, can you post a screenshot?

Can't be arsed to taked a screenshot.

"When Taki Inoue was 16 years old, wking all the time like a monkey....."

https://twitter.com/takiinoue/status/5014557090712...

[jazzdevil]

em177 said:

Ian Lancs said:

Pwig said:

Anyone see Taki Inoue's tweets regarding this today?

He has a way with words!

Don't have twitter, can you post a screenshot?

Hahaha... just read it - don't think re-posting will keep anyone in favour with the mods!

[suffolk009]

jazzdevil said:

em177 said:

Ian Lancs said:

Pwig said:

Anyone see Taki Inoue's tweets regarding this today?

He has a way with words!

Don't have twitter, can you post a screenshot?

Hahaha... just read it - don't think re-posting will keep anyone in favour with the mods!

But it's second hand already.

[Joeguard1990]

Petrus1983 said:

Playing Devils Advocate - could it be that the new 'computer generation' are finding it easier?

Your spot on here. Play forza 5 on Xbox with a proper wheel and pedal set up and in no time you'll be learning the correct racing line, car characteristics, etc.

It's also been proven, search for Gran Turismo Academy

[V8 GRF]

Joeguard1990 said:

Petrus1983 said:

Playing Devils Advocate - could it be that the new 'computer generation' are finding it easier?

Your spot on here. Play forza 5 on Xbox with a proper wheel and pedal set up and in no time you'll be learning the correct racing line, car characteristics, etc.

It's also been proven, search for Gran Turismo Academy

Yes but even they guy who graduated said that driving a real car, was completely different as he was just used to looking straight ahead at a screen and not turning his head to look into the corner as it unfolded. He described that as a whole new ball game and something he found difficult at first, so video games might be a good introduction but no substitute for the real thing.....