Max Verstappen: Dutch teenager makes F1 history

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    Updated 1113 GMT (1913 HKT) October 3, 2014

    Max Verstappen made history during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix by becoming the youngest driver to participate in any part of a Formula One race weekend.
    Photos: The 17-year-old F1 driver
    The 17-year-old F1 driver – Max Verstappen made history during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix by becoming the youngest driver to participate in any part of a Formula One race weekend.
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    The 17-year-old drove for the Toro Rosso team during Friday practice at the Suzuka Circuit, despite being too young to hold a driver's license in his native Netherlands.
    Photos: The 17-year-old F1 driver
    The 17-year-old F1 driver – The 17-year-old drove for the Toro Rosso team during Friday practice at the Suzuka Circuit, despite being too young to hold a driver's license in his native Netherlands.
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    Max's father Jos Verstappen raced in F1 between 1994 and 2003, including spells with teams such as Benetton, Arrows and Minardi.
    Photos: The 17-year-old F1 driver
    The 17-year-old F1 driver – Max's father Jos Verstappen raced in F1 between 1994 and 2003, including spells with teams such as Benetton, Arrows and Minardi.
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    The teenager competed 22 laps before engine failure curtailed his debut F1 drive. His fastest lap of one minute and 38.157 seconds was only 0.443 seconds slower than Toro Rosso's rookie driver Daniel Kvyat
    Photos: The 17-year-old F1 driver
    The 17-year-old F1 driver – The teenager competed 22 laps before engine failure curtailed his debut F1 drive. His fastest lap of one minute and 38.157 seconds was only 0.443 seconds slower than Toro Rosso's rookie driver Daniel Kvyat
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    After his historic drive, every reporter wanted a piece of motorsport's teen sensation.
    Photos: The 17-year-old F1 driver
    The 17-year-old F1 driver – After his historic drive, every reporter wanted a piece of motorsport's teen sensation.
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    Story highlights

    • Max Verstappen becomes youngest driver to participate in F1
    • The 17-year-old drove for Toro Rosso in practice ahead of the Japanese GP
    • The legal driving age in his native Netherlands is 18
    • Verstappen is the son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen
    Seventeen-year-olds in the Netherlands can't hold a driving license, let alone hurtle around a track at 200 miles per hour.
    But that hasn't stopped Dutch teenager Max Verstappen climbing behind the wheel of a Formula One car to make history Friday during practice for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix and become the youngest driver to participate in the sport.
    Not bad considering the legal driving age in his native Netherlands is 18.
    At that age, most are preoccupied by schoolwork and teenage angst. But there's no stopping Verstappen.
    Next season, Verstappen will be a full-time racer for Toro Rosso, which has historically been a stepping stone towards a drive with the hugely successful Red Bull Racing team.
    "Today for me it was all about getting experience in the car, especially on a difficult track like Suzuka," Verstappen told the sport's official website. "I was impressed with the engine power."
    It's been a nail biting rollercoaster ride but Lewis Hamilton edges out his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg to win the 2014 Formula One World Championship.
    Photos: Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton
    It's been a nail biting rollercoaster ride but Lewis Hamilton edges out his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg to win the 2014 Formula One World Championship.
    Photos: Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton
    How Hamilton beat Rosberg – It's been a nail biting rollercoaster ride but Lewis Hamilton edges out his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg to win the 2014 Formula One World Championship.
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    Round one: Nico Rosberg rules in Australia. His Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton had started the race from pole position but retired because of an engine problem.
    Photos: Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton
    How Hamilton beat Rosberg – Round one: Nico Rosberg rules in Australia. His Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton had started the race from pole position but retired because of an engine problem.
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    Round two: Hamilton was quick to make amends, controlling the Malaysian Grand Prix as he led from start to finish with Rosberg taking second place.
    Photos: Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton
    How Hamilton beat Rosberg – Round two: Hamilton was quick to make amends, controlling the Malaysian Grand Prix as he led from start to finish with Rosberg taking second place.
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