Max Verstappen's Macau mistake gives critics fuel for fire
Teenager was hoping for a strong performance on the Guia circuit to strengthen his credibility before becoming the youngest-ever driver in F1
Oh Max … this was not the way for Formula One's soon-to-be-youngest-ever driver to silence the critics.
Max Verstappen has spent the past few weeks on the Formula One circuit, test driving in Japan, the US and Brazil for Toro Rosso. The Formula Three Macau Grand Prix might have seemed a bit of a backward step, and after an embarrassing crash in yesterday's qualification race, the 17-year-old Dutchman, might be wishing he hadn't bothered.
He and his F3 European Championship team Van Amersfoort, for whom he finished third this season, had long pencilled in Macau, and his shock elevation to the senior ranks wasn't going to change that.
Since his signing for Toro Rosso was revealed, many - including plenty of current and former drivers - have cast doubt on the wisdom of letting a teenager who doesn't even have his driving licence take part in motor sport's fastest championship.
A win in the fabled Macau race, putting his name alongside the likes of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, would have helped silence some doubters, but that looks completely out of reach after yesterday's mishap, when he damaged a front wheel after braking too late and hitting a wall, and had to retire.
"It was already decided in the beginning of the year and I think it's good for me to be here and it's always good to have new challenges," the slight teenager said before his gaffe. "It would be nice to win it."