Verstappen to replace Vergne for FP1 at Suzuka

Toro Rosso’s 2015 signing Max Verstappen will make his Formula One Grand Prix weekend debut this Friday, after the team confirmed he will replace Jean-Eric Vergne for the first practice session in Japan.

The switch, which Toro Rosso first alluded to in August, means Verstappen will drive in an official Grand Prix session just three days after his 17th birthday.

"To already be participating in a practice session is of course a dream come true," said Verstappen, who recently completed a 400-kilometre test in a two-year-old Toro Rosso and has now obtained the mandatory FIA Super Licence.

"It is good preparation for next year, even if it's not something I could have imagined a few months ago."

Despite the likely interest in his first run in Toro Rosso's STR9, Verstappen pledged to ease himself into the 90-minute Suzuka session, saying his focus would be on gaining experience rather than instantly trying to impress the team.

"I am not going there to break any records, I just want to gain experience," he said. "I have actually been to Suzuka before, to take part in a go-kart race on the track that is located next to the main circuit's back straight. My dad has raced at Suzuka many times and he told me it's not an easy track to start on. 

"For me it will be a very valuable experience, spending some time in the car and also getting used to working with everyone in the team, to prepare myself for next year. I have spent one day driving this track on the simulator, which helps a bit, but it's no substitute for driving it for real. 

"My first impression is that it's not an easy track and for example it looks hard to get the combination right in the first esses. I have one and a half hours to drive there and I'm looking forward to doing a good job, for myself and for the team."

Verstappen's FP1 drive completes a whirlwind two months for the Dutchman, who joined Red Bull's junior programme in August, and had his 2015 Toro Rosso drive confirmed just six days later. He is set to become the youngest race driver in F1 history at next year's season-opener in Australia.

Spain’s Jaime Alguersuari currently holds the record for the youngest driver to start a Grand Prix, having made his debut for Toro Rosso - in Hungary 2009 - at the age of 19 years and 125 days.

(source: f1.com)

FIA press conference schedule - Monaco

Amongst the drivers who will take part in the official FIA press conference in Monaco on Wednesday will be last year’s victor, Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, plus Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who won in the Principality back in 2005. 

Meanwhile on Thursday, Ferrari’s recently-installed team principal Marco Mattiacci will make his first press conference appearance as he joins other senior personnel in answering questions from the press. The line-ups in full... 

Wednesday, May 21, 1500 hours local time (1400 GMT)
Jules Bianchi (Marussia), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Romain Grosjean (Lotus), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso)

Thursday, May 22, 1600 hours local time (1500 GMT)
Eric Boullier (McLaren), Federico Gastaldi (Lotus), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Marco Mattiacci (Ferrari), Claire Williams (Williams), Toto Wolff (Mercedes)

The qualifying and post-race press conferences with the top three drivers will take place immediately after the respective sessions.

(source: f1.com)

Comparing the 2014 teammates: Toro Rosso

In the previous "comparing the teammates"-post I promised to compare the Toro Rosso drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvjat.

Previously I have written about the teammates of Ferrari, Lotus, Red Bull, Force India, Mercedes, Sauber, Williams, Marussia, McLaren and Caterham. So this will be the last one.

If you haven't read the other posts then click on the links below:

http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/11/comparing-2014-teammates-scuderia.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/12/comparing-2014-teammates-red-bull-racing.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/12/comparing-2014-teammates-lotus.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2013/12/comparing-2014-teammates-force-india.html
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-mercedes.html?spref=fb
http://f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-sauber.html?spref=fb
http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-williams.html
http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-marussia.html

http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-mclaren.html

http://www.f14life.blogspot.fi/2014/02/comparing-2014-teammates-caterham.html

This time we have a little more experienced driver and then again we have a total newcomer (in Formula One).

The russian newcomer Daniil Kvjat is only 19 years old. He has won the Formula Renault Alps series in 2012 and the GP3-series in 2013. That's all I know about him and that's just because he hasn't had time to achieve more in his short life. From all of the russian drivers I have seen this guy impresses me the most. A new Vettel maybe? Or a complete flop? Tell me what you think.

If we take a look at Jean-Eric Vergne a.k.a. JEV then we have much more to talk about. This guy has driven in Formula One for two seasons already. Let the comparing begin!

I'll write the year, the teammate and how it went in that order. Just the way I have always done.

2012 - Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo got 10 points and had to retire in 1 race that year. Vergne got 16 point and retired in 4 races! In my opinion Ricciardo was totally out of Vergne's league in 2012. JEV was very good but for some reason Ricciardo got all the attention and complements.

2013 - Daniel Ricciardo. This time Ricciardo was much better than the year before. Maybe the Red Bull deal had something to do with it? Ricciardo got 20 points and retired 4 times. JEV got 13 points and retired 6 times.

So the first year Vergne was better and the second year Ricciardo.

If Vergne looses right away to Kvjat it will be very embarrassing for him. Kvjat will get a lot of respect of course.

I am not a fan of neither one of them but I will keep an eye on them that's for sure. I am always very interested in new drivers and how they fit in Formula One.

I have always enjoyed it when a new driver comes to Formula One with a bang. For example Jaques Villeneuve took pole position in his first qualifying ever, Lewis Hamilton was 3rd in his first race, Mark Webber was 5th in a Minardi, Räikkönen, Kubica and Vettel took valuable points for their teams in their first race ever etc.

Let's see how young Kvjat does in his first race...

This was the end of the "comparing"-series. I will post something different tomorrow.