Rookie Verstappen F1's overtaking king

Teenager Max Verstappen may have been racing his debut Formula One season in 2015, but the Dutchman came out on top in the overtaking stakes, F1 tyre manufacturer Pirelli says.

The 18-year-old managed 49 successful overtaking manoeuvres during the season to edge out his Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz Jr into second on 45.

Both were well above the average of 26.8, although the total of 509 overtaking manoeuvres during the season was down 10 per cent on 2014 (639).

Malaysia was the most entertaining Grand Prix, with 60, while Australia and Singapore both managed just 11 throughout the entire race.

That wasn't even as many as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel managed all on his own in Canada, where he overtook 13 cars on the way from starting 18th on the grid to finishing fifth.