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F1 fans reacted to Max Verstappen feeling old as younger drivers like Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearnman enter the sport. Fans noted how the Dutch driver himself is not too old.
Speaking to the media during the Italian GP, where Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli participated in FP1, Verstappen said that he's happy to see younger drivers entering the sport.
He added that he now feels old now that he has been in the sport for almost 10 years and seeing junior drivers getting into the sport.
"There is a new wave again that are entering Formula 1, that's great to see. Of course I'm in my 10th year of Formula 1 already, so I do feel a little bit older now that you see the 17 and 18-year-olds knocking on the door! But it's good for Formula 1 to see the young talents come through," Verstappen said.
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Fans reacted to the Red Bull driver's comments and discussed how Verstappen himself is only 26 but sounded like he's 40.
"You are 26, Max Verstappen. Why does he talk like he is 40," one fan wrote.
"BRO YOU'RE 26," another chimed in.
"Can someone remind him he is just 26," someone joked.
Many also discussed about his potential retirement. On several occasions, Verstappen has hinted that he could soon retire and not race in F1 for as long as drivers like Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton.
"Bro what???? No way. You're not allowed to leave until you're 35. I'm prohibiting it," one follower said.
"Boy you're like 25 stop talking about retiREMENT PLEASE," another added.
The Red Bull star started his career in 2015 with Toro Rosso and has been in the sport for nearly 10 years.
Verstappen himself was a young 17-year-old when he first joined the sport, becoming the youngest driver to enter F1. Because of his daring and ruthless on-track performances, he was quickly promoted to Red Bull Racing. He won his first race with the top team right after the switch and hasn't looked back.
The Dutchman has won the last three F1 world championships and has 61 race wins.
Max Verstappen not keen on staying in F1 till 400 races
Max Verstappen bluntly denied when asked whether he would still be in F1 to complete 400 races.
The Dutchman was informed during the press conference before the 2024 F1 Dutch GP that the forthcoming home race would be his 200th Grand Prix. When asked whether he would still be around for another 200 races, the Red Bull driver instantly replied "no".
As F1 has hosted numerous races in a season for the last few years, Max Verstappen reckons he reached 200 races quite quickly.
"No. Nice and easy, yeah. So we passed halfway for sure, but it's been already, of course, an incredible ride. 200, yeah, I mean, it doesn't feel like 200, but of course we're doing a lot of races now in a year, so you add them quite quickly," Verstappen said.
The Dutchman (295) has a 70-point lead over second-placed Lando Norris, with nine races to go.
