F1
Exclusive: On September 30, Max Verstappen turned 17. Today, he made his F1 debut. So, how was it?
At Suzuka on Friday morning, Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen became the youngest F1 driver in history. He completed 22 laps of free practice before an engine failure halted his run a little early.
But he finished a respectable P12, just half a second off the pace of his 2015 team-mate Daniil Kvyat. Afterwards, Max gave us his first impressions...
Max, a good run today. Does that settle the nerves?
I wasn’t really worried! It was the first time in this type of car with the new spec of hybrid engine so the main thing was to get used to it. It’s also my first time at Suzuka and it’s probably quite a difficult track to make a debut on. I had to build up the pace, going a little faster each time. You have to do that in an unfamiliar car because you can’t risk going over its limits. Do that on this track and the day is over because you will be straight in the wall – but generally I wasn’t nervous.
Over the last 12 months you’ve gone from go-karts to F3 to a three-season old F1 car to the real thing. Those are some big steps…
The step from karts to F3 was bigger than the step from F3 to F1. At the end of the day a racing car is a racing car. Compared to my test [300km in an ST7 at Adria to fulfil one of the requirements for an F1 Superlicence] the new car is definitely more tricky to drive. But I enjoyed it: it means the difference between drivers will count for more and that’s good.
The controls for a 2014 F1 car are very complex, can you fully prepare for the complexity of the steering wheel? Well, as a younger generation, we’ve played a lot of games on the PlayStation! You know how many buttons are there – you already have your first feel for it.
Was it a relief to finally get strapped in and get on with the job? The last month you’ve been very busy doing a lot of PR…
Oh, I’m pretty relaxed about all of this stuff! Of course, it’s always nice to get into a racing car. Particularly an F1 car.
Dr Helmut Marko hasn’t been shy about promoting your talents. Does that add extra pressure?
No. I’m very focussed on what I have to do – and I really don’t mind if people want to say nice things about me!
Everyone seems a little preoccupied with your age… I have noticed! But in the end it’s just a number. If you’re well prepared it’s not a problem.
Obviously you’ve grown up immersed in motorsport, but is it special being in the paddock? Are any of your sporting heroes here?
First of all, of course, my dad. He’s helped me all the way and I have to thank him for that. Next to that… Fernando Alonso. I really like his driving style and what he can do with the car is amazing. He can squeeze every last bit out of it.
Is there a programme in place for the rest of the season?
The plan is that I will do FP1 in Austin, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. I won’t be in Sochi next weekend as I have F3 European Championship rounds at Imola. That’s very important to me.
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