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Eight years ago this day: Verstappen announced at Toro Rosso

Eight years ago this day: Verstappen announced at Toro Rosso

18-08-2022 15:32 Last update: 21:30
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GPblog.com

Do you remember? August 18, 2014? It is the day when it was revealed that Max Verstappen had signed a contract with the then Scuderia Toro Rosso as a sixteen-year-old talent. At seventeen, the Dutchman then made his debut in Formula 1 in 2015. 

Verstappen said: "First of all I would like to thank Helmut Marko and Red Bull Racing again for the trust they have in me by letting me drive Formula 1 at this stage of my career. To make my debut with Toro Rosso at the highest level in 2015 is a childhood dream come true. Reaching the pinnacle of motorsport has been my goal since I was seven years old, so now that it's come true, I'm really extremely happy."

Franz Tost also realised at the time what a diamond in the rough Verstappen was. "We are delighted to welcome Max into the Toro Rosso family. It's great to see how the Red Bull Junior Programme continues to find talented young drivers and give them the chance to get into Formula One. We consider Max to be one of the most capable young drivers of the new generation and we believe he has the necessary maturity and mental strength to successfully take on this challenge."

Verstappen ended up spending just over a year on behalf of Toro Rosso. Prior to the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, he made the switch to the great Red Bull, at the expense of Daniil Kvyat.

Toro Rosso announces Max Verstappen