Red Bull’s latest young star Max Verstappen has been announced as Scuderia Toro Rosso’s second driver for the 2015 Formula One season. The Dutch driver, currently just sixteen years old will be seventeen when he makes his debut next year for the Italian team. The announcement was made on Servus TV, which is owned by Red Bull. It was also announced on Red Bull’s website.
Verstappen began racing open-wheel cars only this year, starting his career in the European Formula 3 series. He currently lies second in the championship, having taken eight victories, six of them on the bounce, in a championship fight with Lotus-backed driver Esteban Ocon.
Verstappen will become the youngest driver ever to start a Formula One race, taking the title from former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Algersuari, who was 18 when he made his debut part way through the 2009 season. Verstappen’s father, Jos, was also a Formula One driver between 1994 and 2003, taking two podiums whilst team mate to Michael Schumacher. Four drivers on the current Formula One grid have raced against Jos Verstappen: Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.
The move leaves Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne currently without a drive, as it was also announced that Verstappen’s team mate will be Daniil Kvyat, who made his debut this season.
This article will be updated.
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