close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Steiner, Haas

Steiner warns F1 talent "shelf life" expires earlier

Steiner, Haas — Photo: © LAT Images

Steiner warns F1 talent "shelf life" expires earlier

Verstappen remains the youngest F1 debutant but teenage rookies are not uncommon in modern F1

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has warned that F1 rookies getting younger and younger is bringing down the "shelf life" of the sport's current stars.

When championship leader Max Verstappen made his debut in 2015, the Dutchman was just 17 years and 166 days old.

This is a record that remains unbroken but although the grid features three drivers over the age of 35 [Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso], there are 11 drivers aged 25 or younger, including both rookie Haas drivers.

"They start karting very young and that’s here to stay," said Steiner. "Your reflexes are better when you’re young, your motivation is higher, and I think it’s good for the sport to have young people coming along.

"That’s nothing against older guys, so they shouldn’t be upset with me about it, but we all have a shelf life. I think that shelf life stays the same, it just starts younger and ends younger now.”

AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda is the youngest driver on the grid at 21-years-old but of the current line-up, four drivers made their debuts as teenagers - Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll and now-39-year-old Alonso.

Steiner added: “These days the drivers come in younger anyway, not just now but probably from the last few years or so the drivers have been entering Formula 1 younger than the old days. It’s a trend.

"Obviously, they get older quicker – or they get older younger, I would say."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

FIA piles on the agony for Red Bull but Toto Wolff explains why they got it right

FIA piles on the agony for Red Bull but Toto Wolff explains why they got it right

  • 54 minutes ago
'They won't be going for dinner together' - Ferrari driver relationship update revealed

'They won't be going for dinner together' - Ferrari driver relationship update revealed

  • 1 hour ago
F1 fans can watch next race for FREE as new partnership announced

F1 fans can watch next race for FREE as new partnership announced

  • 2 hours ago
Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle

Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle

  • 3 hours ago
F1 star George Russell opens up on horrifying 'life or death' accident

F1 star George Russell opens up on horrifying 'life or death' accident

  • Today 09:12
'Lewis Hamilton won't be around for long' - Charles Leclerc told to be patient

'Lewis Hamilton won't be around for long' - Charles Leclerc told to be patient

  • Today 08:27

Just in

12:57
FIA piles on the agony for Red Bull but Toto Wolff explains why they got it right
11:55
'They won't be going for dinner together' - Ferrari driver relationship update revealed
10:57
F1 fans can watch next race for FREE as new partnership announced
09:55
Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle
09:12
F1 star George Russell opens up on horrifying 'life or death' accident
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle Aston Martin

Honda chief opens up on Aston Martin partnership and why 2026 has been a major struggle

3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident F1 News Today

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers title blow as George Russell reveals injury incident

Today 06:59
Williams F1 boss claims Albon and Sainz would tell him if they were going to leave Williams

Williams F1 boss claims Albon and Sainz would tell him if they were going to leave

Yesterday 22:57
How George Russell injured himself during Mercedes F1 celebration George Russell

How George Russell injured himself during Mercedes F1 celebration

Yesterday 19:57
Ontdek het op Google Play
x