About Max and Toro Rosso
Published on 18 August 2014 by Stefan Meens
There is a new chapter about to be added to the Verstappen family’s Formula 1 memories. 21 years after Jos Verstappen’s debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1994, his son Max will become the youngest ever F1 driver. When Verstappen junior takes to the Albert Part Circuit in Melbourne, the newly signed Scuderia Toro Rosso driver will be 17 years and 164 days old.
The official announcement that Max replaces Jean-Eric Vergne at Red Bull’s satellite team, was broadcast little over a year after the Dutch youngster drove his first laps in a single seater. It was a Formula Renault 2.0 on a wet Pembrey circuit to be precise and, as we have come to expect, Max clocked impressive lap times.
Max might not have the legal age required to have a driving license, but that does not stop him from driving lightning fast on Europe’s most famous tracks. In fact, it is unique to have a minor become an F1 driver. Max’ short but impressive career starts at age sevens as he wins race after race and clinches title after title on a national level. From 2010 onwards, he takes the international karting scene by storm. After plenty of success in the previous two years, Max is crowned world and double European champion karting in 2013.
After several successful Formula Renault 2.0 tests, Max makes his official single seater debut in the Florida Winter Series. He wins his first motor race in the series supported by the Ferrari Driver Academy and the Dutchman impresses throughout all the twelve races with two victories and three podium finishes.
The ambitious Verstappen junior opts to continue his career in the prestigious FIA Formula 3 European Championship. In only the second round of the series, Max takes his first F3 victory. With two rounds to go, Max has thus far clinched eight victories and five podiums, including two hat tricks at Spa-Francorchamps and the Norisring. In addition, the 16-year-old youngster won the Zandvoort Masters crown in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
The good relationship with the Red Bull Junior Team goes back several years. Max’ father and mentor, Jos Verstappen, visited the Red Bull head quarters for the first time five years ago. Furthermore, Dr. Helmut Marko, who advises Infiniti Red Bull Racing, has always kept an eye on Max’ impressive career. The Austrian played a crucial part in signing Max as a Junior. The contract ultimately finalized the week after the European F3 race at the Red Bull Ring.
Max will become the fifteenth Dutch Formula 1 driver as he joins the company of his father and mentor Jos. With seventeen world championship points, Verstappen senior remains the most successful Dutchman in the history of the sport. Jos spent his final season in F1 with Minardi in 2003. The Italian team would later become Scuderia Toro Rosso after team boss Paul Stodart sold his shares to ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger and Red Bull owner Dieter Mateschitz. The latter completely took over the team in 2008.
Ever since, Toro Rosso, led by the Austrian Franz Tost since 2006, has somewhat become a springboard for Red Bull Juniors to progress from into the main Red Bull outfit. Both Daniel Ricciardo and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel have joined Red Bull Racing after mastering their trade at Toro Rosso. Max Verstappen is set to be the next best thing to evolve from the prestigious Red Bull Junior Team and Toro Rosso.
