Formula One Jos Verstappen

1 formula one

1.1 1994: benetton
1.2 1995: simtek
1.3 1996: footwork arrows
1.4 1997: tyrrell
1.5 1998: stewart
1.6 1999: honda
1.7 2000–2001: arrows
1.8 2003: minardi

formula one
1994: benetton

verstappen first drove formula 1 car when tested footwork arrows team alongside gil de ferran , christian fittipaldi @ estoril circuit in portugal. test took place on september 28, 1993, 2 days after portuguese grand prix held @ same circuit. despite large increase in power (from 175 bhp formula 3 car 750 bhp of formula one), verstappen set time have qualified him in preceding race on fourth timed lap, , improved time more second after 65 laps. best lap time of day 1:14.45, 0.07 seconds slower regular driver derek warwick had lapped during qualifying, , have placed him tenth on grid, highly impressive performance first test. tested again on september 30 , lapping near existing record after 5 laps, crashed car, ending test early.

after test, verstappen contacted every formula 1 team except ferrari , williams, , signed benetton team s test driver 1994 season.

after crash in pre-season testing regular driver jj lehto (who broke vertebra), verstappen drove in first 2 races of season substitute, partnering michael schumacher , made formula 1 debut @ 1994 brazilian grand prix. during race collided eddie irvine, triggered multiple accident involving Éric bernard , martin brundle. verstappen s car somersaulted, emerged unharmed. @ pacific grand prix verstappen ran 6th spun off on cold tyres after pit stop. lehto fit next race @ imola, performances in subsequent races disappointing , rested benetton following canadian grand prix, allowing verstappen return race seat.

one of dramatic incidents affected verstappen @ german grand prix. during first scheduled pitstop during race, fuel leaked onto car after fuel hose disconnected. car, verstappen in it, engulfed in flames several seconds. usual @ time, verstappen had opened visor of helmet pit stop, apart slight burns nose, uninjured. after incident fuel delivery hose modified incorporate fail-safe cut-out system.

jos verstappen driving benetton b194 @ 1994 british grand prix.

a high point in season verstappen s third place during next grand prix in hungary, schumacher having allowed verstappen unlap himself on final lap pass martin brundle s stricken mclaren-peugeot. took third place @ belgian grand prix due schumacher s post-race disqualification victory, , fifth place @ portuguese grand prix. curiosity accident during practice session french grand prix @ magny-cours, in verstappen rammed car pit wall causing debris fly , destroy tv installation. due accident, equipment protected race track acrylic glass.

for last 2 races of season, verstappen replaced more experienced johnny herbert in bid win constructors championship benetton. team unsuccessful in aim , prize went rival williams team.

1995: simtek

in 1995 loaned simtek benetton team principal flavio briatore. despite strong showings (including running 6th @ argentine grand prix before poor pit stop , subsequent gearbox failure) verstappen finished once in 5 races drove team due technical difficulties. team had deep financial troubles , went bankrupt after monaco grand prix. out of race drive, verstappen did test driving benetton , ligier (then part-owned briatore , tom walkinshaw). briatore decided against taking option verstappen in 1996, signing jean alesi , gerhard berger drive instead.

1996: footwork arrows

in 1996 drove footwork team , impressed in rounds, running 5th in interlagos , finishing 6th in buenos aires. shortly after team taken on walkinshaw s twr organisation. during belgian grand prix part of suspension of verstappen s car broke off, causing him crash heavily. ended prolonged neck injury. verstappen featured in walkinshaw s plans 1997 (the new owner @ 1 point threatening replace him pay driver unless signed season) surprise availability of damon hill (soon crowned world champion) saw him dropped instead. form in second half of season dropped off development on 1996 car ground standstill, twr arrows focusing instead on 1997.

1997: tyrrell

in 1997 went tyrrell team did not score points, though briefly ran 5th in canadian grand prix. team suffered underpowered ford cosworth edv v8 engine , lack of funding leaving verstappen , teammate mika salo struggling towards rear of field. verstappen s best result team 8th @ wet monaco grand prix. before 1998 season tyrrell sold british american tobacco, intended rebrand team british american racing in 1999 after 1 final season under tyrrell banner. ken tyrrell wanted retain verstappen alongside toranosuke takagi bat insisted on taking pay driver ricardo rosset alongside young japanese driver. tyrrell himself left team in disgust on matter, leaving dr. harvey postlethwaite run team.

1998: stewart

out of regular drive 1998, verstappen tested benetton once again in year, team not hire him permanent test driver lack of sponsors. experienced, fast free agent verstappen common name mentioned in pit lane gossip replacement underperforming drivers. return series @ french grand prix, replacing jan magnussen @ stewart. however, car uncompetitive, team struggled run 2 cars same level , verstappen did not perform better predecessor. johnny herbert signed partner rubens barrichello 1999 , verstappen left casting around drive again.

1999: honda

however, once looked things going in right direction verstappen. near end of 1998 became test driver honda formula 1 project. teamed old tyrrell friends rupert manwaring , harvey postlethwaite, planning test new car in 1999 , join series in 2000. went operation, testing hack showing against upper-midfield teams such benetton , williams in various test sessions until postlethwaite died of heart attack. not long after, honda changed plans becoming factory team engine supplier , verstappen again without formula 1 seat. tested jordan team in case damon hill decided retire before end of season came nothing when verstappen s testing performance underwhelming , hill resolved see out season.

2000–2001: arrows

verstappen testing arrows team @ monza circuit in 2000.

in 2000 returned arrows, had put impressive package including supertec engines, neat chassis straight-line speed , bevy of sponsors. car proved unreliable speed allowed verstappen , teammate pedro de la rosa dice front runners @ several circuits (albeit partly due design s small fuel tank meaning cars lighter rivals). in second race @ interlagos ran 6th before spinning due sore neck brought on lack of recent seat time. in wet/dry canadian grand prix, drove superbly in later stages move strong 5th position , score first points since 1996. after first corner accidents in austria de la rosa , verstappen ran 4th , 5th mechanical problems sidelined them both. verstappen score once again, strong 4th place @ monza.

for 2001 retained arrows. supertec engines replaced asiatech units , de la rosa dropped on eve of season in favour of red bull-backed enrique bernoldi. package more reliable less competitive , verstappen hurt on occasion indifferent qualifying form (often lining behind rookie teammate on grid). highlights of season included running 2nd @ sepang having started 18th, making superb start , running in changing conditions before dropping 7th , later scoring team s point of year 6th @ a1-ring. less impressive performances @ interlagos, ran of leader juan pablo montoya after being lapped , montreal moved top 6 asked of brakes , crashed out on day when points possible.

nevertheless, had re-signed drive arrows in 2002 dropped @ eleventh hour in favour of heinz-harald frentzen. later year signed test contract sauber turned out physically large car, smaller predecessor.

2003: minardi

he returned cockpit in 2003 paul stoddart s european minardi team, considered tail enders of grid. limited funds , underpowered engines difficult season little opportunity shine. best result 9th @ canadian grand prix, 1 place away point under new scoring system. @ brazilian grand prix had been running ahead of eventual winner giancarlo fisichella on same strategy spin off on standing water, year 1 forget – , many noted verstappen largely outperformed rookie teammate justin wilson. @ end of year left italian team because did not feel driving in rear-guard year.

out of drive 2004 verstappen considered replacement giorgio pantano @ jordan partway through season unable fit in car , began looking drives outside formula 1 following season.

verstappen participated in 107 grands prix. achieved 2 podium places, , scored total of 17 championship points (115 in modern system) makes him second best performing dutch driver in formula 1 date, beaten son, max. jos verstappen s highest qualifying position 6th, @ 1994 belgian grand prix.