by Our Sports Desk

Sixteen-year-old Max Verstappen has the “mental strength” to cope with life in Formula One, according to Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost.

The son of former racer Jos is set to become the youngest F1 driver in history after joining Toro Rosso for the 2015 season.

Verstappen, who turns 17 in September and currently competes in Formula Three, will replace Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.

Tost described the former karting world champion as “one of the most skilled young drivers of the new generation.

“We believe he has the necessary maturity and mental strength to take on this challenge successfully. This year he has already demonstrated how well he can cope under difficult conditions.

“It will now be up to us to provide Max with a competitive car, which will enable him to have the best possible start to his Formula One career.”

Verstappen said: “First of all, I would like to thank Dr Helmut Marko and Red Bull for all their trust and giving me the chance to make my Formula One debut in 2015 with Scuderia Toro Rosso. 

“Ever since I was seven years old, Formula One has been my career goal, so this opportunity is truly a dream come true.

“We’ve all worked tremendously hard to reach Formula 1 and I will give my absolute best to be successful at the pinnacle of motorsport. 

“With the return of the Verstappen name to Formula One, I hope we can relive old memories and I’m hoping to see many fans at all the Grand Prix circuits.”

But Verstappen has been warned that senior Formula One drivers will not be happy to see the teenager lining up on the grid with them next season.

Former McLaren assistant team manager Tony Jardine, who also worked with Brabham and Lotus, is convinced it is something that will not be greeted warmly by some of Verstappen’s new competitors.

Jardine said: “What the senior drivers will think about it — don’t ask them, because they won’t like it.”

But he did go on to say that Verstappen has promise.

“He looks like a wonder-kid but he is going to be the youngest ever on a Grand Prix grid.” 

“In the Netherlands, where he comes from, the age is 18 to get your driving licence, so it is going to be a huge story for the Dutch media.

“But the point is he has been racing since he was a little boy, like Lewis Hamilton.

“He will already have quite a few years of experience racing by the time he gets to the grid.”