(Scuderia Ferrari SpA via Twitter)
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso believes that Formula One should not judge new Toro Rosso signing Max Verstappen based on his age and the sport should wait and see how he does first. It was announced on Monday that the Italian team had signed the Dutch teenager (son of former F1 driver Jos Verastappen) to replace Jean Eric Vergne at the team next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports New HQ ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix Alonso said:
'I think it is just a number on your passport, the age, at the end of the day you need to be ready for the challenge and be ready for Formula One Grand Prix.'
Alonso believes that Verstappen needs to be given between six to eight Grand Prix before the F1 world passes judgement on whether he was ready for the challenges of Formula One. Following the announcement that Verstappen had been given the drive Red Bull Motorsport adviser Dr Helmut Marko who is also head of their young driver programme stated that he felt the Dutch driver is ready for Formula One and that he has 'unbelievable speed.'
Marko also believes that the Verstappen has shown great maturity for his age and that he can be a future world champion.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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