Verstappen against so-called ‘Verstappen rule’

Max Verstappen is against the so-called ‘Verstappen rule’, and is pleased that the FIA are becoming more lenient with allowing teenage drivers to compete in F1. 

18 years and 134 days old. That was Verstappen’s age when he won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, a record that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon for the youngest winner in F1 history.

This is for two reasons. Firstly, it is very rare for a driver to be in a leading team at such a young. Secondly, being in F1 at 18 years old is now significantly harder due to an FIA regulation.

In the sport nowadays, there is a rule that states a driver has to be at least 18 years old to race in the pinnacle of motorsport. However, in a recent update to the ruling, only at the request of teams can an exception to this be made by the grace of the FIA.

In the paddock, the rule surrounding having to be 18 to race in F1 was quickly renamed the ‘Verstappen rule’, as the FIA took action after Red Bull allowed 17-year-old Verstappen to make his debut in a free practice session in 2014 – he started his first race in 2015. 

Verstappen himself is not exactly a fan of this rule. In the Talking Bull podcast, Verstappen is asked if he thinks his record for being the youngest F1 winner will ever be broken.

“That depends on the rules,” the Dutchman said. “They changed them, of course, to that you have to be 18. Now thankfully they are becoming more lenient, but honestly, I really don’t care about those records at all.”

He later continued: “If I’m sitting on the beach with a gin and tonic later, I really don’t care at all! So I’ll be fine!”