Verstappen F1 rookie smash proved SURPRISING fact about him
Verstappen F1 rookie smash proved SURPRISING fact about him
Former Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost revisited the start of Max Verstappen’s F1 career and explained how a crash in the Abu Dhabi Young Drivers’ Test made him realise that he was in fact ‘too fast’ for the car.
Verstappen became the youngest ever driver to race in F1 when the joined the grid as a 17-year-old for Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso in 2015.
The Dutchman wowed team principal Tost and Red Bull driver programme boss Helmut Marko in the F3 European Championship the year prior, with three victories in the wet at the Norisring making it clear to Tost that he had to skip the queue and drive Toro Rosso machinery the next year.
Before that, he had three FP1 outings in 2014 in Japan, Austin and Brazil, followed by the Young Drivers’ Test in Abu Dhabi, where it was not long before Verstappen put the car in the barriers.
READ MORE: Former F1 star teases sensational return after Marko revelation
Rookie Verstappen 'too fast' for Toro Rosso
But rather than putting it down to the future three-time world champion being out of his depth, Tost instead claimed that the Toro Rosso was not up to his level.
The Austrian told Max Verstappen’s official website: “After those races in Germany, we called each other. Helmut and I are of course always in touch about such matters, we discuss at length the performances of young drivers.
“For me, it was clear that I wanted Max in our car, as a driver and not as a test driver. You know, when Max first tested at Friday practice, he was just 17. Many ‘experts’ said it was far too early. To which I said: but not for Max Verstappen. Because he is not a passenger in the car, as you often see with newcomers, he is driving the car. The way he controlled the car, completely mastered it… Extraordinary.
“Believe me, if that hadn’t been the case, he really wouldn’t have been in the car. Then I would have said: go and drive Formula 2 for a year first. But I was one hundred per cent convinced that we could take Max straight from Formula 3 to Formula 1.
“Max’s first test was at the circuit in Adria to get the feel of a Formula 1 car. In Suzuka, he drove at the Japanese GP in the first free practice, and later it happened in Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi,” he added.
“I remember exactly what happened in Abu Dhabi in practice: he crashed immediately in one of the first laps there. And I also knew why: Max was simply too fast for the car.
“In Sao Paulo, he was also going very fast. At one point, I think in the first corner, he almost lost the car. But how he then caught it and got it back was fantastic.
“No spin, nothing at all. For me it became clear there once again that he had the level to drive for us the following year.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Hamilton REVEALS Mercedes F1 exit reasons
- 30 minutes ago
Ferrari F1 replacement announced ahead of Imola
- 1 hour ago
Horner reveals TRUTH about Newey relationship at Red Bull
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull chief hints Verstappen exit as F1 rivals detail key upgrade plans
- 2 hours ago
Mercedes F1 star gives WORRYING prediction over team future
- 2 hours ago
Ferrari secret upgrade REVEALED for key F1 race
- 3 hours ago
F1 Race Calendar 2024
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
-
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP USA
3 - 5 May
Lando Norris
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
- GP CANADA 7 - 9 Jun
- GP SPAIN 21 - 23 Jun
- GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun
- GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul
Related news
Verstappen highlights positive of Donald Trump after F1 appearance
Red Bull chief accuses Wolff of DISRESPECTFUL Verstappen poaching
Former F1 boss delivers 'SILLY' verdict on Verstappen's Red Bull future
F1 pundit names rivals as only option for 'fuming' Verstappen
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- AWS Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860