[Driver] Max Verstappen should NOT race in F1 for 2015

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by bauble

I have been browsing through some old tapes from our local radio station recently, where I report on motor sport, and I found that in 1993 I referred to the Footwoork F1 team testing a couple of promising young drivers for 1994, and I referred to "Dutch sensation Jos Verstappen, winner of the German F3 Championship".

Does that make me old?

20 years? Bloody hell, ancient!

[bauble]

[
I look in the past and I see examples of young inexperienced drivers coming in and being quick. I also look in the past and see examples of older inexperienced drivers being quick - that doesn't happen now. So, was it easier in the past?[/QUOTE]

The major difference I think (stress 'I') is that there is very little danger attached to driving a Formula 1 car today, it took a particular type of person to willingly drive a car on circuits that when combined could, and frequently did, kill you. Whenever we have heard from current drivers driving cars from previous era's they usually comment that the safety standards were far removed from today's cars. A lot of people might be prepared to take a wire walk across a deep gorge, if there was a safety net below, however, few would try without such a device.

In other words it was not just talent that was needed back in the 50's - 60's for instance, but a certain kind of bravery.

Ask yourself; If your teenage son came home and said he was driving a 1960's Lotus Formula 1 car on rain swept circuit that ran through a forest, without seat belts and just a simple crash helmet. Would you worry about him?

Maybe Jos would not be so keen to promote his son under those circumstances.

PS; I was born in 1937 and am officially, according to Government, an OAP, but I am still waiting to get old, which I why I pose questions about how to decide that I am indeed old.

PS; No comments please Knowlsey.

[bella]

Originally Posted by bauble

The major difference I think (stress 'I') is that there is very little danger attached to driving a Formula 1 car today, it took a particular type of person to willingly drive a car on circuits that when combined could, and frequently did, kill you. Whenever we have heard from current drivers driving cars from previous era's they usually comment that the safety standards were far removed from today's cars. A lot of people might be prepared to take a wire walk across a deep gorge, if there was a safety net below, however, few would try without such a device.

it's a fair point, but i'm not sure it carries much weight. the simple acid test i suppose has been the bianchi accident, and the affect it has had on a lot of the drivers. none whatsoever. perhaps if you were to say "right lads, we're turning the cars into death traps, no more squishy tyre walls and absolutely no tarmac runoff, instead we're installing crocodile pits" then those who feel they have the most to lose would walk away, but that's because of a contrast between the safe and the more perilous.

it has always fascinated me that often the young lads who have clearly been in the sport due to hefty parental influence and who aren't especially committed to the sport themselves are amongst the bravest when you watch trackside. it seems to be a complete conflict.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by bauble

I have been browsing through some old tapes from our local radio station recently, where I report on motor sport, and I found that in 1993 I referred to the Footwoork F1 team testing a couple of promising young drivers for 1994, and I referred to "Dutch sensation Jos Verstappen, winner of the German F3 Championship".

Does that make me old?

I still have the Autosport issue somewhere that had Jos on the cover and refered to him as "F1's hottest new boy" and talked about him going from karts to F1 in "just" 2 years

His son already broke that record

[steve nielsen]

Toro Rosso race engineer Xevi Pujolar, who has worked with Mark Webber, Juan Pablo Montoya and Eddie Irvine in the past has said Max is "the best he has ever seen".

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/3...est-i-ve-seen/

[Adam43]

Better than Eddie Irvine? Crikey.

[Paradise City]

It's actually the drivers that get the biggest eulogies in their pre-F1 stage that I find myself most non-plussed by. I call it the Barrichello effect. I expect Verstappen to be capable enough but I don't think he'll rewrite F1 history.

[Knowlesy]

Better than Montoya? I'm not having that!

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Better than Montoya? I'm not having that!

Come on, that's not really really all that difficult.......

[Knowlesy]

I'm not having it Ayse. I just ain't.

[Aysedasi]

Sadly, there appears to be no choice matey.......

[bauble]

Now! Now! Lads, let's keep it peaceful, no brawling on a public forum, what would mother say?

[Greem]

She'd say that she never liked Montoya, was always more of a Ralf woman...

[Adam43]

I didn't know that was possible.

[Aysedasi]

Have I missed a superhero?

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Greem

She'd say that she never liked Montoya, was always more of a Ralf woman...

We once had a Ralf Schumacher fan on this very forum. Literally the only one in the world it seemed!

Ralf had less right to be in F1 than Verstappen.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Surprised nobody's mentioned this Jacques Villeneuve yet, or were you just getting there...

[Adam43]

People know better.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Surprised nobody's mentioned this Jacques Villeneuve yet, or were you just getting there...

Well Jacques does have two young sons. Maybe in a handful of years we can argue about if they should be in F1 or not!

Richard

[Aysedasi]

Nah, they'll be too old for F1 by then......

[bauble]

I believe that the Settrington Cup is a round of the F1 World Championship this year.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Well, I'm happy to agree to differ on whether we should allow children to drive Formula One cars, however fast they are in a go kart, since it appears the FIA have sensibly introduced new rules to prevent this ever happening again.

Yet we still have well funded and clearly talented youngsters going straight form a kart to a Formula Three car.

My question is this:

What on earth is the point of Formula 4, if you can simply dodge the requirement to prove yourself against your peers because you have the funds?

It simply doesn't make sense?

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Well, I'm happy to agree to differ on whether we should allow children to drive Formula One cars, however fast they are in a go kart, since it appears the FIA have sensibly introduced new rules to prevent this ever happening again.

Yet we still have well funded and clearly talented youngsters going straight form a kart to a Formula Three car.

My question is this:

What on earth is the point of Formula 4, if you can simply dodge the requirement to prove yourself against your peers because you have the funds?

It simply doesn't make sense?

it's not about funds, it's about talent.

Max tested in Formula Renault 2.0 first and set lap records at tracks he had never driven before so they chose to skip that series and go straight to F3.

And since he won 10 races last season (more than anyobe else) he proved it to be the right choice.

[F1 lobby]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

it's not about funds, it's about talent.

Max tested in Formula Renault 2.0 first and set lap records at tracks he had never driven before so they chose to skip that series and go straight to F3.

And since he won 10 races last season (more than anyobe else) he proved it to be the right choice.

The very few vinegar peeërs(dutch expression) like Jackass Villeneuve, and uphere Flavio Frivole as well as Mekulo just can't live with the fact that so now and than a wonder kid jumps out of the box and therefore they rather burn the rookies down to the ground instead of supporting them and hoping for the best to show..all those unreal moments which youngster Marquez gave us all you wouldn't want to see neither just because of his toooo young age??

Come on man those very few aliens on this planet bring racing to a whole other level, just be thankful that they are willing to risk their lives just to put up an awesome show for us. And in speaking dutch terms, watch this season to become one of the most exciting with another dutch pride which is actually wayyy too young to race on top level: Michael van der Mark

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

^Very good and true point.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, nobody thinks of changing himself.

Verstappen is a world class talent, there's no doubt.

As to the point of F4, the karters who step into F3 are the elite and 16+yo, whilst the top karters who step into F4 are going to be 15 because of the FIA age limits. FR2.0 gets a lot of kart graduates and is surprisingly close to F3 in terms of pace.

And people jump steps all of the time. In recent years the FR Eurocup champ has gone into FR3.5 and been very competitive. It has worked many times in the past for many drivers. Max's jump is bigger but crucially has more coverage which means more haters know about it