From the moment he sat into a Formula 1 car, Max Verstappen was proclaimed special. The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix reaffirmed that belief. Six years later, he is the defending Formula 1 World Champion and is on course to win his second title.
However, back in 2015 when he made the jump to Formula 1, the FIA had to step in. Back in 2015, when Max Verstappen made his F1 debut, he was only 17. His only relevant experience was in Karting and a nascent career in Formula 3.
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This led to the FIA strengthening the Super License regulations. This was to ensure that extremely young drivers don’t make it to the grid without some “relevant” experience. However, in a recent Tweet, Will Buxton started a very important discussion in Formula 1.
Max Verstappen fans react as Will Buxton questions FIA’s super license policy
Will Buxton took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the FIA’s super license policy. He pointed out that the super license policies of today only came into existence after Max Verstappen‘s arrival in Formula 1.
Fascinating, isn’t it, that the superlicense points system was brought in as a knee jerk reaction to the rapid ascent to formula 1 of a driver who has amassed thus far 17 poles, 21 fastest laps, 30 victories, 72 podiums, a world championship and is well on the way to his second.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) September 7, 2022
Max Verstappen fans took to the comments section of his Tweet to troll the FIA. In all honesty, though, these fans were just here to support their hero. Verstappen has been in stonking form this season. The fact that he triggered such a rule and then went on to prove it moot, got his fans cheering.
F1 desperately wants Max Verstappen, but is terrified of Max Verstappen.
— Het Kleine Groene Boekje (@BoekjeGroen) September 7, 2022
Yeah, it's weird. True quality will always show, and pay drivers usually show that too. Not always in a positive way.
— WimboFormula1 (@Formula1Wimbo) September 7, 2022
Will, tell me one good decision that’s been made by the powers that be over the last decade that made F1 better? I can’t think of a single one… Not one 😔
— Racing Insider (@racing_insider) September 7, 2022
IDK I'm a big fan of LH but Max has been driving great races this year and I might have to say I'm also a Max fan to just troll everyone. I would love to see another title fight again between those two. Also Max is a world champion and Herta should be able to race F1.
— RoberŁ Hollingshead (@0xF21D) September 8, 2022
This comes after news emerged that AlphaTauri might turn to IndyCar maverick Colton Herta for a potential Formula 1 drive next year. However, Herta currently does not possess the requisite super license points to compete in F1.
However, many fans were quick to point out the logic in the FIA’s decision and how Verstappen actually deserved the following sanctions.
I think his first 2-3 seasons proved why rules were needed, if his surname wasn't Verstappen he would have joined countless other RB drivers on the scrap heap, fortunately for him he got given time but he could have done his learning in f2 first and hit the ground running in F1
— Ryan Powell (@pugman1983) September 7, 2022
Rather than describing as a 'knee-jerk reaction', perhaps consider what Red Bull would have done if said driver was unsuccessful, given their treatment of others in their employ, and you might conclude that it was the right move.
— Jonathan Davey (@jonathandavey) September 7, 2022
I stand by objecting to verstappen getting an f1 seat, he was way too inexperienced. Same with raikkonen. Max was also only 17. Doesn’t mean that I think that they shouldn’t land in f1 a year or two later. Herta is completely different.
— Dogtanian (@Dogtanian8) September 7, 2022
To be fair, he has grown a bit as a driver. He was brought in too early and that was clear at the time.
— Ch+ (@imightbechad) September 7, 2022
I think you have to remember those early seasons though when he was a crash concern due to lack of experience. Sure he is great now, but that isn't the point. By rising through the ranks he may have had fewer potentially dangerous crashes as he would have learnt the craft first.
— SoloRinger (@BellNerd) September 8, 2022
The matter now rests in the hands of the FIA. It is up to them to decide whether or not Colton Herta will get a direct entry into Formula 1. If this doesn’t work out, he might have to languish in the lower tiers for a few seasons before he can take the step up.
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In response to all this going down on his Twitter, and a fan saying Verstappen had “an astrix” against his championship, Will had this to reply.
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) September 8, 2022
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Can Max Verstappen be cited to argue against the super license regulations of the FIA? Should Colton Herta be given a free pass with regard to this rule by the FIA? Let us know in the comments below.