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Today’s Young Drivers Face a More Difficult Road to F1 Than Past Generations
Published: January 25, 2015
F1 is an exclusive sport—it always has been. With few exceptions, drivers have always required both talent and money (either their own or a sponsor's) to make it to the top of the motor-racing pyramid.
As it stands right now, though, it has never been more difficult for a driver to make it to F1.
The first barrier standing in the way of young drivers is the dearth of seats on the grid. In 2005, for example, 26 drivers started at least one race. Going back a further 10 years, 35 drivers started a grand prix in 1995. In 1985, there were 36—you get the picture.
There just aren't the same number of opportunities today for a new driver to get into a race.
Not only that, but with the demise of Marussia and Caterham, F1 has lost two potential proving grounds. Traditionally, back-markers have sold race seats either to drivers with cash or to the bigger teams trying to give their young prospects some F1 experience.
Fernando Alonso spent his first year in F1 at the back of the grid with Minardi before moving on to Renault. Likewise, Daniel Ricciardo started with HRT before his promotions to Toro Rosso and then Red Bull. Even more recently, Jules Bianchi, a Ferrari protege, was being groomed at Marussia before his terrible crash at last year's Japanese Grand Prix.
Those opportunities are disappearing as lower-budget teams are forced out of the sport.
The next big barrier confronting prospective F1 drivers is the high cost of motorsport. This applies at both at the junior levels and for drivers breaking into F1, who are often expected to bring significant amounts of sponsorship money with them.
Take GP2, for example. It is...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Formula 1
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