Formula 1: The key problem with the young driver system

Formula 1 young driver program problem: What do we lose?

Many of these lost talents find their way to sports car racing or another format of motorsport, but they leave their aspirations of top-tier formula racing at the door, unlikely to ever be rekindled.

The solution to such a problem is anything but simple, as the dismissal of presiding legends from the sport could arguably be worse. The only two options currently present would be an overall expansion of the grid or an even more restrictive set of qualifications to achieve an FIA Super Licence.

New entries to Formula 1 will certainly be out of the picture until 2026 with the introduction of more affordable engine regulations currently intriguing automotive manufacturers Audi, Porsche, and even Volkswagen. Sadly, these organizations would likely only seek to expand the selection of power units available to current teams.

But what do we miss when potentially generational talents are unable to land themselves on the grid? We throw away the opportunity to introduce new personalities to the paddock and a doe-eyed racer to the grid, capable of reinterpreting the current understanding of racecraft.

Now well-established as the new trend regarding driver selection, teams want youth within their lineup, with generational talents such as Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and so on.

Some of the best storylines in Formula 1 history have occurred as a result of young, wily rookies challenging their more senior counterparts. Think of Lewis Hamilton vs. Fernando Alonso in 2007, Michael Schumacher’s 1992 campaign, and the spectacle of a 17-year-old Verstappen operating the fastest machinery on earth whilst being legally unable to drive on public roads.

These opportunities produce some of the best storylines in the sport, yet they may be lost to time due to the loss of inspired rookies in exchange for qualified racers who can quicken the machinery under them with a wallet instead of their talent.