Double world champion Mika Hakkinen claims that there is "no way" that Dutch teenager Max Verstappen will be ready to compete in Formula 1 in 2015.
Verstappen will be the youngest ever driver to take part in the sport when he drives for Toro Rosso at the start of next season at 17 years of age.
However, Hakkinen, who made his F1 bow at the age of 23 in 1991, is adamant that the youngster in too young and fears for his future.
The Finn told myhermes.de: "There is no way a driver can be ready for Formula 1 at the age of 16 or 17.
"I would never, either as a manager of father, let a driver as young as that race in F1. It's too early, and if it fails, it can cause a lot of damage."
Verstappen's father Jos broke into F1 in the 1990s as a teammate at Benetton to seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Written by
Chris O'Keefe
Chris O'Keefe
