The question is one Max Verstappen became very well-practised at answering during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Following the shock revelation that he would make his Formula 1 debut for Scuderia Toro Rosso next season at the age of 17, how could a driver so young and in only their first season of car racing possibly be ready, even if he is excelling in the hugely competitive Formula 3 European Championship.
“Age is just a number,” he says. “It’s on the track where you have to show what you can do. But I always made big steps – from karting to F3 was a big step, but it was a different environment because my dad was also an F1 driver. I’m ready for it.”
