AUGUST 3, 2015

Boss likens Verstappen to champion Vettel

Franz Tost, the team boss at Toro Rosso, has compared F1 teen sensation Max Verstappen to quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel.

"There are many parallels," he told Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"Max has a similar way of thinking, working methods and the same focus as Sebastian," Tost added.

"Actually it's more like Stefan Bellof -- this kind of disrespect without arrogance," he explained.

For his part, rookie Verstappen plans to spend his summer break collecting some kilometres on the streets as he bids to secure his normal driving licence.

But he told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that he is also already looking forward to Spa-Francorchamps, which is almost a home race for the Belgian-born Dutchman.

"It's just a shame that it will be difficult to score points. The long straights are not good for us," said Verstappen.

Before Verstappen set off on vacation, he headed to the Imola circuit last week for a Toro Rosso 'filming day'.

Italy's Omnicorse reports that, ahead of the FIA rule tweaks that come into effect at Spa, Verstappen practiced so-called 'manual race starts' in his STR10.

(GMM)