Potential for Toys Out of Pram?

[grober]

With the news that 16 year old Max Verstappen has been confirmed as Toro Rosso’s new driver for 2015 should there be a lower age limit for F1 drivers? The son of the former F1 driver Jos, he currently competes in the Formula 3 European Championship but will have to wait another 2 years before being permitted to drive on the public road in the country of his birth. While undoubtedly possessing the physical skills for the job and without mentioning any names we have already experienced lots of " toys out of pram" incidents from up and coming F1 drivers over the years. Maybe we should be looking for a little more maturity of character before allowing 16 year olds to play with the big boys.
Max Verstappen takes a step into the unknown as F1?s youngest driver | Sport | The Guardian

 

[martyz]

Nothing wrong with a 16yr old in F1,youngsters have very quick reactions couple that
with live F3 experience sounds good to me.

 

[Dieselman]

Why should there be an age limit either way.

Sounds rather prejudiced.

 

[Meldrew2]

My first thought was that the age limit should be in parity with driving on public roads - but of course the age for this varies from country to country. But I thought again…..

Considering that no F1 team is going to employ a poorly skilled driver in their incredibly expensive car, and that he has no doubt served his "apprenticeship" in lower formulas, I think that age should not be relevant.

After all, older drivers can still throw toys - so age does not have a direct correlation with maturity.

So….. I hope Max has a good season!

 

[E270 Owner]

There's quite a few 61 year old's behaving immaturely on the roads................


Anyway on topic>>

Just because they are competent on the track doesn't mean they have the skills or road sense for public highways.












.

 

[Harrythedog]

Apparently you're not issued with a licence to drive F1 by the governing body unless you've won 2 or 3 races at a slightly lower level so the lad must have proved himself

 

[wemorgan]

Considering that no F1 team is going to employ a poorly skilled driver in their incredibly expensive car

Maldonado? At least he pays his team to crash their incredible expensive car.

 

[noy91]

Not quite the same, but Freestyle Motocross (FMX) has seen some pretty young riders come through and be competitive without any teenage antics, so am inclined to give the guy a chance. Whether I'd want to socialise with him is another matter however...

 

[Mrhanky]

Age within reason is irrelevant he will prove or not on the circuits.

 

[Halcyon Days]

I guess if / when he gets on the podium, he can spray his capri-sun over his fellow competitors.

He must have some skills to get him a seat (not to mention sponsorship and the right "name") but he won't have the experience.
F1 is pretty fickle, if he deserves to be there, he'll do well, otherwise he'll disappear into obscurity

 

[grober]

The "toys out of pram " was really just a joke remark. As I said there certainly would be no limitation in terms of the lad's ability to drive the car but surely there's a bit more to being an F1 driver than that? Fitting into the team, earning the respect of your pit crew, the "on message" sponsorship business, just handling all the media attention and likewise the criticism should you fail to deliver. Maybe the guy to ask would be Paul di Resta?

 

[paneraiseeker]

What a daft thread. If a F1 see potential in a 16 yr old then what's the problem.

Look at football clubs that have 10 year old on there books. What is the difference.

Look at Super bikes.....most of them haven't passed there test.....are you going to complain about them also....

 

[def90cars]

What a daft thread. If a F1 see potential in a 16 yr old then what's the problem.

Look at football clubs that have 10 year old on there books. What is the difference.

Look at Super bikes.....most of them haven't passed there test.....are you going to complain about them also....

Ron Haslam didn't have a license for a while.

 

[grober]

What a daft thread. If a F1 see potential in a 16 yr old then what's the problem.

Look at football clubs that have 10 year old on there books. What is the difference.

Look at Super bikes.....most of them haven't passed there test.....are you going to complain about them also....

Who is complaining? If anyone suffers because they get it wrong it won't be F1 or Torro Rosso it will be Max Verstappen. My concern would not be how he might handle success but how he might handle failure. Good luck to him. I hope he does well.

 

[JohnEclass]

Who is complaining? If anyone suffers because they get it wrong it won't be F1 or Torro Rosso it will be Max Verstappen. My concern would not be how he might handle success but how he might handle failure. Good luck to him. I hope he does well.

I agree, at 16 if he makes a mistake.....hes just a kid knows no better... but if like premier league youth programmes, he gets discarded after 1 season could devastating for him, hopefully F3 has prepared him.
I will be cheering him on

 

[moonloops]

With the news that 16 year old Max Verstappen has been confirmed as Toro Rosso’s new driver for 2015 should there be a lower age limit for F1 drivers?

Main sponsors already signed up aparrently, clearasil and kleenex

 

[John Jones Jr]

Sixteen, 28 F3 races and 9 wins. Plus the support & experience of his Dad. Sounds good to me.

 

[paneraiseeker]

Well the pressure will be on the lad. If he is as good as his father was then he may complete a race......or two.....

 

[martyz]

Sixteen, 28 F3 races and 9 wins. Plus the support & experience of his Dad. Sounds good to me.

Indeed.

 

[kianok]

As the old saying goes, 'if you are good enough, you are old enough'