Hamilton feels age as Verstappen makes GP debut

MELBOURNE: 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 aim to 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.