Horner recalls first Verstappen 'properly brave' moment in F1

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Christian Horner believes that Max Verstappen is "quite clearly" the most talented driver ever to race for Red Bull.

Eight seasons on from his promotion to Formula 1 at the record age of just 17 and having just wrapped up his second world title in Japan, Verstappen is on the verge of joining the great Michael Schumacher and former Red Bull charger Sebastian Vettel as the drivers who have achieved the most wins – 13 – in a single season.

With four races to go, Verstappen has a strong chance of not only matching Schumacher and Vettel but of overhauling the pair and standing once again in a league of his own.

But looking back at Verstappen's formative year in the sport with Toro Rosso in 2015, Horner remembers a moment at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa where he first realized the outstanding level of his young driver's skills and grit.

"What stood out was Spa, when he drove round the outside of Felipe Nasr," Horner recalled, speaking to The Guardian.

"I thought: ‘This boy is properly brave, committed and quick.’ You saw it that season, he was a shining star. It was evident immediately he was a prodigious talent."

The following year, just four races into the 2016 season, circumstances compelled Red Bull to promote Verstappen to it’s A-team, the young gun replacing Daniil Kvyat alongside Daniel Ricciardo.

And Verstappen lost no time making his mark, the teenager taking a sensational win in the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona on his race debut with Red Bull Racing.

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"I’ve never seen anything like it, what we witnessed that day was something special," Horner added.

Verstappen has yet to equal Vettel's achievement of winning four titles with Red Bull, but Horner insists that F1's reigning world champion is the best driver his team has ever had.

"The great thing is he is just open to pushing himself in all areas, he always feels there’s more to be had," explained the Briton.

"He is quite clearly the most talented driver that I think we have had in one of our cars."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.