Too inexperienced, but not too young

2014 saw one of the most controversial moves in motorsports to be announced. Shortly after Red Bull Junior Team hire Dutch rising star Max Verstappen to its program, Toro Rosso announced the son of Jos “The Boss” Verstappen as one of its drivers, becoming the youngest driver in the Formula 1 history, as he will be 17 years old at the start of the 2015 Australian GP.

The criticism by the fans and even by some people that is or were involved in F1 is that he is too young for the sport, saying that he needed some more years before going to a seat of an F1 car. The fact that he already tested past cars and the current car, even being a little slower than the full-time drivers, is a sign that he can drive an F1 car despite his age. Of course, test driving and competitive driving are different worlds, but if he can handle both, he is OK. It’s not a matter of being young, it’s a matter of being inexperienced, as he jumped from karts to Formula 3, and then to Formula 1.

One of the facts that can help to analyze what I say is the case of the American Matt McMurry, who became the youngest driver in the Le Mans 24 Hours, as he was only 16 years old in June. He drove a Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN LMP2, alongside Chris Dyson and Tom Kimber-Smith. The kid was hired to the Dyson Development Driver program, assisted by his father, Chris McMurry, who has lots of experience in the former American Le Mans Series to pass to his young son. The No. 42 car finished 25^th overall and 11^th in the LMP2 class.

McMurry is obviously young, but he had some good experience under his belt, as he was racing in the IMSA Prototype Lites since 2012. He first tested an ORECA FLM09 PC car, and then going to the Zytek Z11SN. He also did a full season in the European Le Mans Series, finishing 7^th in the drivers’ standings. And proving that he isn’t only a prototype guy, he did some Blancpain Super Trofeo rounds in the United States, and tested a Bentley Continental GT3 to add in his achievements. Recently, McMurry was added to the Michael Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 lineup for the 2015 North American Endurance Cup, which is nothing more than the longest events in the United Sportscar Championship.

The age gap between McMurry and the last record holder is even tighter than Verstappen’s one, and lasted longer. Ricardo Rodriguez was 17 yeard old when he raced at Le Mans… In 1959, and he even went to F1 two years later. Jaime Alguersuari, last record holder of youngest driver in F1, he was 19 in 2009.

Rodriguez also was the youngest driver to be on podium at Le Mans in his time, with 18 years old, and was the youngest in F1 at that time to be on the front row, with 19 years old.

Of course, low age always raises a doubt on how consistent the driver will be, but it’s better to consider his past experiences if any, his talent and his mentality. A young gun sometimes can be more commited to a cause than some old dogs, but time will tell if they were the right choices.

PHOTOS: FIA, Dyson Racing