Max Verstappen
Verstappen will become youngest driver in the history of Formula One 

Sixteen-year-old Max Verstappen will become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history after signing for Toro Rosso for the 2015 season.

The dutchman replaces Jean-Eric Vergne for the new campaign and will partner Daniil Kvyat at the Red Bull sister team after impressing in his debut season in Formula 3.

Verstappen only joined the Red Bull junior team last week and will aim to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Ricciardo, who joined the four-time constructors' champions for the 2014 season.

His progression into the top-tier of world championship motor racing is made all the more impressive given he is currently too young to drive in his own country.

"First of all, Red Bull for all their trust and giving me the chance to make my Formula debut in 2015 with Scuderia Toro Rosso," Verstappen said. "Ever since I was seven years old, Formula 1 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 in the pinnacle of motorsport. With the return of the Verstappen name to Formula 1, I hope we can relive old memories and I'm hoping to see many fans at all the Grand Prix circuits," he added.

Jaime Alguersuari currently holds the record as F1's youngest driver to start a race while Verstappen's Russian team-mate Kvyat is the youngest to earn a world championship point after his 9<sup>th-place finish at the Australia Grand Prix this term.

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said: "It's great to see how the Red Bull Junior Programme continues to find talented young drivers and gives them the opportunity to come into Formula 1.

"We consider Max to be one of the most skilled young drivers of the new generation and we believe he has the necessary maturity and mental strength to take on this challenge successfully.

"Toro Rosso was created with the aim of bringing young talent from the Red Bull Junior Team into Formula 1 and to educate them, [and] 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 1 career."