The New Youngest Driver in Formula 1

Published on August 19, 2014 in Racing by Frédérick Boucher-Gaulin
Max Verstappen

Formula 1 will welcome its new youngest driver next year, when (the then) 17 year old Max Verstappen will replace Jean-Eric Vergne in one of the Toro Rosso cars for the 2015 season.

This is obviously not the first time the kid will sit in a race car. Being the son of Jos Verstappen (who ironically raced in Formula 1 for Minardi, the team bought by Red Bull to create Toro Rosso), Max started to race karts when he was 7. He currently races in Formula 3, where he has won seven races in 2014 alone.

Vergne will leave Toro Rosso, having been thanked by team manager Franz Host for his efforts for the team since his arrival in 2012. Host was also quick to mention that the Frenchman should get another chance in Formula 1. Vergne is currently 13th in the championship, and he has yet to win a Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen will become the youngest driver in a Formula 1 race, beating Jaime Alguersuari, who was 19 when he drove in the Hungary Grand Prix in 2009.