Three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart says that youngster Max Verstappen can be a 'superstar', provided he can handle the pressure of Formula 1. Verstappen will race for Toro Rosso in 2015 but will make his Grand Prix weekend debut in Japan on Friday, when he pilots Jean-Eric Vergne's car during the opening 90 minute practice session. At the age of 17 years and three days, Verstappen will become the youngest driver to take part in an official Formula 1 session. "The world is looking […]

Toro Rosso has confirmed that Max Verstappen will make his practice debut in this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Verstappen, who will race for the squad in 2015, will replace outgoing driver Jean-Eric Vergne in the opening 90 minute session on Friday. Toro Rosso had originally planned to give Verstappen his practice debut in Austin at the end of October but has opted to hand him an outing in Japan after the FIA granted the young Dutch driver his superlicence. "I am very much […]

Carlos Sainz Jr hopes that his impressive performance last weekend can put him back in the spotlight after a challenging couple of months. The Spaniard scored a double-victory in the Formula Renault 3.5 category in France at the weekend, moving close to becoming the first Red Bull-backed driver to win the crown. But last month Sainz, 20, was overlooked for a Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso for 2015, as the squad opted to promote Max Verstappen. Speaking to Spain's El Confidencial, Sainz Jr paused […]

Red Bull consultant Hemlut Marko has called 2015 Toro Rosso signing Max Verstappen an 'exceptional talent' and compared him to the late Ayrton Senna. 16-year-old Verstappen will race for Toro Rosso next season despite just a single year of car racing and will become the youngest Formula 1 driver in history. But Marko believes that Red Bull's new acquisition has what it takes to place himself among the greats of the sport. "He is an exceptional talent that comes along only once in decades," Marko […]

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost says that 2015 signing Max Verstappen should make his Formula 1 weekend debut at the next round in Japan. 16-year-old Verstappen will race for Toro Rosso in 2015 and the team had intended to hand Verstappen track time across the final three races of the current campaign. But the Italian squad now intends to bring forward Verstappen's practice runs, meaning that the Dutch youngster could appear behind the wheel of the STR9 at Suzuka in two weeks' time, although […]

Carlos Sainz jr's famous father has expressed disappointment with Red Bull's decision-making in 2014. Earlier, 20-year-old Spaniard Sainz jr was regarded as the undoubted cream of the energy drink's driver development programme, and therefore the favourite to make his F1 debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso. But as Mercedes toyed with signing up the teen sensation Max Verstappen to its own new junior programme, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko swept the Dutchman off his feet with a hard-to-refuse multi-year contract and an immediate F1 debut […]

Max Verstappen has completed his first proper Formula 1 test, after completing a day's worth of running at Adria in Italy. Verstappen, who briefly trialled a Red Bull RB8 at Rockingham before piloting it in Toro Rosso colours at a show run in Rotterdam recently, completed 148 laps of the circuit in an STR7 and racked up sufficient mileage to be granted an FIA Super License. Toro Rosso say that overnight rain allowed the 16 year old Dutch racer to sample Intermediate tyres, before conditions […]

Max Verstappen has admitted the blame for crashing during his first proper run in a Formula One car. With all eyes on the 16-year-old after his controversial announcement as Toro Rosso's 2015 racer, the Dutchman steered into a barrier whilst demonstrating a Red Bull car during the street event in Rotterdam at the weekend. "No excuses. I'm guilty," Verstappen is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper. "I was late with the clutch in the anti-stall system," he added, with the crash reminding some of the way […]

Mika Hakkinen has added yet another disparaging response to the news Max Verstappen will make history next year as by far F1's youngest ever driver. And the 1998 and 1999 world champion does not only criticise Red Bull's decision to sign the young Dutchman just half a year out of karts, but also his former F1 rival Jos Verstappan, who is Max's father and manager. "In no case is a driver ready for Formula One at 16 or 17," Hakkinen said in an interview with […]

Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes came close to signing up Max Verstappen. Ultimately, the 16-year-old Dutchman and his father-manager Jos went with Red Bull's famous driver programme, after Dr Helmut Marko promised him a race seat for 2015 at Toro Rosso. "We had several meetings with Jos and Max," Wolff, Mercedes' motor sport chief, confirmed to the German newspaper Bild. "He is certainly a great talent, but we would not and could not guarantee him a seat with us in Formula One. "So I advised […]

Max Verstappen will race for Toro Rosso in 2015, it has been confirmed on Red Bull-owned Servus TV. Verstappen recently joined Red Bull's young driver programme and is currently in second place in the Formula Three European Championship, having claimed eight victories in his first season of car racing. The Dutch driver, son of former Formula 1 racer Jos, will be 17-years-old when he makes his debut next year. He will race alongside Daniil Kvyat, leaving Jean-Eric Vergne without a drive. "First of all, I […]

Formula Three ace Max Verstappen has joined the Red Bull junior team, it has been announced. Verstappen was present at the recent German Grand Prix and was believed to be in talks with both Mercedes and Red Bull. The Dutch driver opted to join Red Bull's junior system. "We are very pleased to announce that Max Verstappen has accepted our invitation to join the Red Bull Junior Team," read a statement. "This is effective immediately and the 16-year-old Dutchman will continue his FIA Formula 3 […]