Is 16 years old too young for F1?

[Duke]

After reading the article below, I'm thinking that putting a 16 year old in a F1 car is a bit early? Ok this is just an aero test and not with other cars, but there is only so much experience he would have so far of similar formulae?

The Imperial War Museum runway at Duxford played host to the youngest ever test driver in Formula One history today, with 16-year-old Nabil Jeffri seeing his dream come true as he conducted a day of aero testing for Lotus Racing on the museum's Cambridgeshire runway.

Fairuz Fauzy and Heikki Kovalainen were both on hand to lend their advice to the young Malaysian and Nabil, a key member of the AirAsia ASEAN Driver Development programme, completed the day's testing, and gave the team valuable pitstop practice throughout a busy day on track for the Anglo-Malaysian squad.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=41885


Track time for potential new drivers for the following season is okay but someone that is 16..?

 

[Duke]

That's not to say I'm not jealous!!!!

I think we all are

 

[Duke]

Testing is banned, so why was this run allowed?

Each team can carry out a set number straight line tests. Most are done at old air fields, some near here in the south west

In another minor change, teams will be allowed six rather than eight days of straight-line aero testing per season. They will also have the option of substituting any of these days for four hours of wind tunnel testing with a full-scale (rather than the normal 60 percent-scale) model.

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/8692/