Rookies deny F1 now 'easy'

Jul.21 (GMM) Toro Rosso's young rookies have hit back at claims formula one is increasingly "easy".

With the unprecedentedly-young Max Verstappen, 17, and 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Sainz thriving this year despite their inexperience, many critics see it as a sure sign the pinnacle of motor sport is not as difficult as it once was.

But Dutchman Verstappen told Brazil's UOL Esporte: "I do not think that formula one is getting easier.

"The point is that, from an early age, you are able to prepare much better now than you could 20 years ago. Because everything is more professional," he said.

"The result is that drivers are coming in sooner," Verstappen added.

Sainz, who according to his boss Franz Tost has also done an "excellent" job in 2015, agrees.

He cited examples like Rafael Nadal (tennis), Michael Phelps (swimming) and MotoGP's Marc Marquez, insisting athletes in the 21st century are increasingly breaking through and dominating from a very early age.

Sainz said: "Anyone who thinks that F1 is easy must also think the same about all sports, because we are seeing people coming through earlier and earlier.

"Why would this not happen in F1 too?" he added.

"The same happened in MotoGP but nobody talks about that getting easier. But it is a global trend because young people are better prepared."