There was a time in Formula 1 when most of the drivers were aged. Back in the 1960s, the average age of the drivers were in their 40s. With the advent of new technologies and aerodynamics in the cars, the need of younger blood seemed inevitable. The age of the drivers started to reduce as people started to show keen interest in the sport from an early age as their reaction had to be faster. As the sport started to grow, the need for speed and efficiency became the need of the hour and naturally young drivers started to show more mettle than the aged ones.
Gradually the age to start in F1 started to decrease from 30s and came down to 18s. Most of the drivers in today’s time have started racing as soon as they turned adult lately. In today’s list we’ll check out top 10 youngest drivers to ever race in F1.
#10. Daniil Kvyat
Daniil Kvyat. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 324 days.
Race – 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
Result – P9.
Daniil Vyacheslavovich Kvyat, born in 26 April 1994 in Ufa, Russia is the 9th joint driver along with New Zealand’s Chris Amon in our list. Daniil having started racing in Formula 1 in 2014, raced his last in 2020. The 27-year-old has raced for the teams like Toro Rosso, Red Bull and AlphaTauri and has 112 races to his name.
Daniil Kvyat of Russia driving the (26) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12 on track during qualifying for the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2017 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
#9. Chris Amon
Chris Amon (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 324 days.
Race – 1963 Belgian Grand Prix.
Result – Retired.
Christopher Arthur Amon, or Chris Amon was born in 20 July 1943 in Bulls, New Zealand. Having started his racing in 1963, this New Zealander is famous for the number of teams he has raced for. The joint 9th racer in our list has raced for the teams like Cooper, Amon, Ferrari, March, Matra, Tecno Tyrrell, BRM, Ensign, Wolf–Williams, Non-works Lola, Lotus and Brabham. Amon who clocked up 108 races to his name has retired from Formula 1 in 1976. Chris died in 3 August 2016 at the age of 73 in Rotorua, New Zealand.
Chris Amon of New Zealand driving the Ferrari 312 at the Grand Prix of Great Britain, Brands Hatch in 20 July 1968. (Photo by Bernard Cahier/Getty Images)
#8. Esteban Tuero
Esteban Tuero. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 320 days.
Race – 1998 Australian Grand Prix.
Result – Retired.
Now in no. 8 we have Esteban Tuero. Tuero was born in 22 April 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 43 year-old driver debuted in 1998 and has raced for Minardi. Tuero has managed to rake up 16 races to his name.
Esteban Tuero drives the #23 Minardi Team SpA Minardi M198 Ford Zetec-R 3.0 V10 during the Mobil 1 German Grand Prix on 2nd August 1998 at the Hockenheimring Circuit in Hockenheim, Germany (Photo by Michael Cooper/Getty Images)
#7. Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 218 days
Race – 2001 Australian Grand Prix
Result – 12th
In no. 7 we have Fernando Alonso from Spain. Fernando Alonso Díaz was born in 29 July 1981 in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. The 39 year-old racer is still active in Formula 1 and is currently racing for Alpine. The two times World Has clocked up 322 races to his name and is considered as one of the best drivers in the sport.
Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) Alpine A521 Renault on track during Day Two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 13, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
#6. Ricardo Rodriguez
Ricardo Rodriguez (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 208 days.
Race – 1961 Italian Grand Prix.
Result – Retired.
Up next in no. 6 we’ve Ricardo Rodriguez from Mexico. Born in 14 February 1942 in Mexico City, Mexico, Ricardo Rodriguez had quite short stint in Formula 1. The talented racer’s life came to an unfortunate end when he died in 1 November 1962 just at the age of 20 in Mexico City itself. Having raced just for one year in his Formula 1 career, Rodriguez has driven for Ferrari and raked up only 6 races to his name.
Ricardo Rodriguez of Mexico driving his Ferrari 156 Sharknose at the Grand Prix of Belgium, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on 17 June 1962. (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
#5. Mike Thackwell
Mike Thackwell (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 182 days
Race – 1980 Canadian Grand Prix
Result – Retired.
Next in no. 5 we have Mike Thackwell. Mike was born in 30 March 1961 in Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand. The 60 year-old started racing in Formula 1 in 1980 and his raced his last in 1984. During his days as a driver he raced for the teams like Arrows, Tyrrell and RAM and raked up 5 races to his name.
Mike Thackwell driving his Formula 1 car. (Image Courtesy: Fi.com)
#4. Jaime Alguersuari
Jaime Alguersuari (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 125 days.
Race – 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Result – P15.
In no. 4 we have Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari. Jaime Víctor Alguersuari Escudero was born in 23 March 1990 in Barcelona, Spain. The 31-year-old has started his career with Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team in 2009. The Spaniard has raced his last in 2011 and during the process he managed to clock up 46 races to his name.
Jaime Alguersuari of Spain and Scuderia Toro Rosso drives during practice for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 7, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)
#3. Lando Norris
Lando Norris (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 19 years, 124 days
Race – 2019 Australian Grand Prix
Result – P12
In ahead in no. 3 spot we have Lando Norris. Norris is a British racer born in 13 November 1999 in British town of Bristol. Currently racing for McLaren, Lando is quite the star now. Having managed to secure 46 races under his name, the 21 year-old racer is one of the big names in Formula 1 world now.
Third placed Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (4) McLaren F1 Team MCL35M Mercedes passes his team celebrating on the pitwall during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 18, 2021 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Clive Mason – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
#2. Lance Stroll
Lance Stroll (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 18 years, 148 days.
Race – 2017 Australian Grand Prix.
Result – Retired.
Next at no. 2 we have Lance Stroll from Canada. Stroll was born in 29 October 1998 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The 22 year-old driver currently drives for Aston Martin and he’s son of famous businessman Lawrence Stroll. Having driven for Racing Point and Aston Martin, Lance has managed to count up to 87 races to his name.
Lance Stroll of Canada driving the (18) Racing Point RP20 Mercedes on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Turkey at Intercity Istanbul Park on November 14, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
#1. Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (Image Courtesy: Getty Images)
Debut – 17 years, 166 days.
Race – 2015 Australian Grand Prix.
Result – Retired.
Now in the no. 1 spot we have Max Emilian Verstappen from the Netherlands. Having born in 30 September 1997 in Hasselt, Belgium, Max is one of the most promising driver in Formula 1 now. Verstappen is the son of veteran driver Jos Verstappen and is now a driver for Red Bull Racing-Honda in 2021. Mostly considered as the title contender in 2021, Max is the youngest F1 driver to race in this sport as of now and has 127 races to his name.
Red Bull Racing team members celebrate on the pitwall as Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda crosses the finish line to win during the F1 Grand Prix of France at Circuit Paul Ricard on June 20, 2021 in Le Castellet, France. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
So, did you like our list of the top 10 youngest drivers to race in F1? Mail us to give your feedback.
