It’s hard to believe, but it’s true! 8 years ago Max Verstappen made his F1 debut

Max Verstappen is within reach of his second Formula One championship crown at the age of 25. Although several drivers have achieved this number of world championship titles at this age, in most cases they have been missiles with just a couple of seasons in the saddle of a monoposto. However, as incredible as this fact may seem to you, the World Champion of the 2021 season, and most likely 2022, first attended an F1 race weekend eight years ago!

Last year’s world championship duel between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has been described by many as a spectacular clash of old and new generations. With a slight exaggeration, Hamilton can already be classified as one of those retired drivers who could slowly become daddies to their younger colleagues on the grid.

Verstappen, on the other hand, cannot be clearly placed alongside names like Charles Leclerc or George Russell, the true successors of Alonso, Vettel or Hamilton. Although the Dutchman figures alongside Leclerc and Russell in the battle for grand prix victories, the now 25-year-old Verstappen has almost as much F1 experience as both of his aforementioned rivals combined.

The Hasselt native shocked the Formula One world when, as a freshly 17-year-old, he climbed into a Toro Rosso car during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix on October 3, 2014. Verstappen dazzled with his performances in the karting championships he participated in back in 2013. His only stop between karting and the queen of motorsport was the European Formula 3 championship, in which he finished third overall.

His now undeniable talent was then noticed by Red Bull. It controversially decided to engage him in practice for the 2014 Japanese GP in preparation for the full 2015 season. Many scratched their heads. How can such a young driver with minimal junior racing experience safely race a monster like an F1 car? Especially amongst nineteen other drivers with far greater amounts of experience?

But Verstappen’s prowess in the following eight years in Formula One exceeded all expectations, positive or negative. And his fully deserved world championship title last year only proves that if it hadn’t been for the dominance of Mercedes, he could have been attacking the historic records of the sport’s greatest greats at the age of 25.

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