The Formula One establishment is nervously waiting to see how Max Verstappen – too young to drive a car on his home Dutch roads – handles a 300km/h beast on the legendary Suzuka track on Friday.
Some worry that, at 17, the son of F1 veteran Jos Verstappen, is taking a risk at a tender age.
Others are concerned though about how big a star he is going to become.
The impact will start as soon as the young Verstappen climbs into a Toro Rosso car for a historic session of free practice before Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Verstappen was only 16 when he passed his racing driver’s super-licence last month. He turned 17 on Tuesday and on Friday will become the youngest ever Formula One debutant.
His father featured in 107 grands prix between 1994 and 2003, scoring two podium finishes as Michael Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton.
But much more is expected of Max Verstappen, already an accomplished Formula Three driver, who will replace Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne on Friday morning and permanently from next season.
“I am looking forward to taking part in a free practice session at a grand prix for the first time – it’s good preparation for next year even if it’s not something I could have imagined a few months ago,” said Verstappen.
“I have spent one day driving this track on the simulator, which helps a bit, but it’s no substitute for driving it for real.”
Vergne, now hunting for a F1 job for next year, has said little.
He knows that Toro Rosso, the sister team to champions Red Bull, is a breeding ground for talent like four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel
His teammate last year, Australian Daniel Ricciardo, is now at Red Bull and has won three races this year.
Vergne will return on Friday afternoon aiming to record lap times better than those of the Dutch junior.
“The world is looking at him – and that’s not a small piece of pressure,” three-time world champion Jackie Stewart told the BBC.
“He has been sensational early in his career, but F1 is another story.
“He will face more pressure than a young driver would have been exposed to years ago.
“I’ve seen some great young drivers come along and the pressure has been too much for them. It can go either way.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he adapts to that. There has been so much talk about him and his age. It’s a big ask. Toro Rosso believe they have to give him a shot. If he does that well, he is going to become a young superstar.”
After a successful early career in karts, Verstappen has impressed this year in European Formula Three – winning eight of 27 races.
The statistics are not enough to impress 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve who said Verstappen is too young and the super-licence system is “flawed”, if it allows such easy access to the track.
Current record-holder Vettel was 19 years and 53 days when he ran for BMW Sauber in free practice in Turkey in 2006.
