When I was 17-years old, all I could ever think was getting my driving license and experiencing a sense of freedom by being able to show off that I could drive (being a February baby) and that I could fetch my school friends around after school. Never did I once thought about motorsports as well as participating in any races. Enter Max Verstappen.
If you can recall, a number of years ago, there was a formula one driver named Jos Verstappen and he happens to be Max’s father. I guess when you have a family of racers, you tend to follow in their footsteps.
Rising star Max Verstappen is set to become the youngest driver in Formula One history next year as the Dutchman joins Daniil Kvyat at Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2015, and will drive for the team aged just 17.
Verstappen has set the world alight in his first year in single-seaters, winning eight races so far in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and with a shot of the title.
Ever since I was seven years old, Formula 1 has been my career goal, so this opportunity is truly a dream come true.
This of course means the return of the Verstappen name to Formula One, after Max’s father, Jos, drove for the likes of Benetton, Stewart and Arrows between 1994 and 2003.
We’ve all worked tremendously hard to reach Formula One. With the return of the Verstappen name to F1, I hope we can relive old memories and I’m hoping to see many fans at all the circuits.
Max is set to make his debut for Torro Rosso, aged 17, at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix.
Formula One’s top ten youngest drivers.
1. Jaime Alguersuari – 19 years, 125 days – 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix
2. Mike Thackwell – 19 years, 182 days – 1980 Canadian Grand Prix
3. Ricardo Rodriguez – 19 years, 208 days – 1961 Italian Grand Prix
4. Fernando Alonso – 19 years, 218 days – 2001 Australian Grand Prix
5. Esteban Tuero – 19 years, 320 days – 1998 Australian Grand Prix
6. Chris Amon – 19 years, 324 days – 1963 Belgian Grand Prix
7. Daniil Kvyat – 19 years, 324 days – 2014 Australian Grand Prix
8. Sebastian Vettel – 19 years, 349 days – 2007 United States Grand Prix
9. Eddie Cheever – 20 years, 53 days – 1978 South African Grand Prix
10. Jenson Button – 20 years, 53 days – 2000 Australian Grand Prix
Image Source: Red Bull Motorsports
