Max Verstappen became the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix when he competed in the 2015 Australian Grand Prix at age 17.
Verstappen was born on 30 September 1997 and made his F1 race debut for Scuderia Toro Rosso on 15 March 2015. He was 17 years and 166 days old, far younger than the previous age limits commonly associated with Formula 1 drivers. The result was possible because he had been signed for a race seat before the later minimum age rule was introduced.
Verstappen retired from the Australian race with an engine problem, but his debut began a record-setting career. He later became the youngest Grand Prix winner when he won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing.
The FIA subsequently introduced a minimum age of 18 for a Formula 1 Super Licence, meaning Verstappen’s age record is unlikely to be approached under the current rules.