Hamilton feels age as Verstappen, 17, makes GP debut

World champion Lewis Hamilton was gobsmacked Thursday to learn Dutch teenage sensation Max Verstappen was born in the same year he signed his first contract to race in Formula One.
Verstappen is set to become, in the season-opening Australian Open Grand Prix on Sunday, the youngest ever Formula One driver at 17 years and 166 days, smashing Jaime Alguersuari's six-year-old record by almost two years.
The youngster will be behind the wheel for Toro Rosso in his Formula One debut against the sport's contemporary greats, Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo.
It only dawned on Hamilton at Thursday's official race media conference the context of Verstappen's potential achievement.
"I've only just realised I am the oldest driver here," said Hamilton, 30, with a sense of mock shock.
Turning to Verstappen he asked: "You were born in '97? Geez, I signed my first contract with McLaren in 1997, bloody hell."
Ricciardo, now 25 but who made his F1 debut at 21, advised young Verstappen to enjoy the experience of his first race drive.
"Just go and enjoy it, get behind the wheel and remember that's the main reason why you are here to be on track Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so enjoy those few hours then the rest will come," Ricciardo said.
The teenager, son of former driver Jos, served his racing apprenticeship in karting and then won 10 races in European Formula 3 last year to earn himself a shot at the big time.
"To be honest, since I was young I have never seen something else because my dad was doing it," he said at the media conference.
"I basically grew up into it so for me it doesn't feel like anything new, I just deal with it."
Verstappen is taking it all in his stride ahead of Sunday's first race of the season around the Albert Park street circuit.
"Compared to last year when I did three Friday practices, I think the car is a really good step forward," he said.
"Especially with the long runs we did it was very promising and I felt really good in the car.
"I could do a lot of laps so I was really happy about that and it gives me a lot of confidence going into the race."
Source: AFP