Sixteen-year-old to become youngest F1 driver in history
Sixteen-year-old Max Verstappen is set to become the youngest Formula One driver in history after joining Toro Rosso for the 2015 season.
The son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen turns 17 in September and currently competes in Formula 3.
Verstappen said on the Toro Rosso website: "First of all, I would like to thank Dr Helmut Marko and Red Bull for all their trust and giving me the chance to make my Formula debut in 2015 with Scuderia Toro Rosso.
"Ever since I was seven years old, Formula 1 has been my career goal, so this opportunity is truly a dream come true."
Verstappen, a former karting world champion, will replace Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.
Franz Tost, the Toro Rosso team principal, described Verstappen as "one of the most skilled young drivers of the new generation".
He said: "We believe he has the necessary maturity and mental strength to take on this challenge successfully. This year he has already demonstrated how well he can cope under difficult conditions."
He added: "It will now be up to us to provide Max with a competitive car, which will enable him to have the best possible start to his Formula 1 career."
He added: "There are several people that have helped me throughout the years and still support me to this day and I want to sincerely thank them.
Verstappen was quick to praise his father following the news that he will be joining Torro Rosso.
"First of all a big thanks to my father Jos, who has always been by my side, day and night, year after year," Verstappen said.
"Of course I'm very thankful for all my sponsors who've believed in my talent and supported me in these financially difficult times. I hope that I can maintain a wonderful collaboration with them as I embark on this exciting new phase in my career.
"I also want to thank my manager Raymond Vermeulen, for all his efforts in making this agreement possible. Finally, thanks to all the teams in the various karting and single-seater categories for their vital help and support. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.
"We've all worked tremendously hard to reach Formula 1 and I will give my absolute best to be successful in the pinnacle of motorsport. With the return of the Verstappen name to Formula 1, I hope we can relive old memories and I'm hoping to see many fans at all the Grand Prix circuits."
