In October 2014, on a weekend tragically overshadowed by the fatal accident of Jules Bianchi, a young Dutch driver named Max Verstappen made his first official appearance in an F1 session without anyone knowing who he will become a few years later.

At the time, he was just 17 years and 3 days old, which made him the youngest driver ever to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend. His debut came during the first practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, one of the most demanding circuits in the world. Despite the challenge, Max stayed calm and confident, showing he was ready for the big stage.

Earlier that year, Max had been racing in Formula 3, where he impressed everyone with his speed and skill. After a strong season, he caught the attention of Red Bull, who invited him to join their junior driver programme. Not long after, he was given the chance to test a Formula 1 car.

In September, he completed the required distance in a private test and received his FIA Super Licence, which allowed him to drive in official F1 events. Just weeks later, he was behind the wheel for Toro Rosso in the first practice session in Japan.

During the session in Japan, Max completed 22 laps and handled the car with surprising ease. He wasn’t the fastest, but he did very well for a newcomer, finishing only four tenths of a second behind his more experienced teammate, Daniil Kvyat. After the session, Max said he was happy and had enjoyed the experience. His goal was simply to get comfortable in the car and start learning, and he did exactly that.

Towards the end of the session, his car developed a small problem with the engine, which caused some smoke, but it didn’t take away from the strong impression he had made. People around the paddock praised his performance and maturity.

Eight years later, Max returned to Suzuka and won his second world championship there, making the track even more meaningful in his journey. That day in Japan in 2014 was the beginning of something big.