With the 2022 Formula One season entering it's latter stages, there are still a handful of seats available for 2023, and, of course as per usual, there are plenty of rumours surrounding who will be the lucky drivers to fill these. Current rumours include Alpha Tauri's driver; Pierre Gasly, making the move to Alpine and Nyck de Vries, who stood in for Alexander Albon down at Williams for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix weekend, is supposedly replacing Gasly at Alpha Tauri. Zhou Guanyu will most likely continue with Alfa Romeo and Haas seem to be heading down the "ex-Formula One" driver route. But what about the drivers in Formula Two? Isn't the junior series the breeding ground of F1? Why is it that a very small handful of drivers are being looked at as potential future F1 drivers? Let's take a look.
First of all I should clarify that not every Formula One driver comes from Formula Two. In fact, Formula Two is one of many pathways into the world of F1. It is, however, due to the convenience of being the main support series of F1, the most logical and easiest way into the pinnacle of motorsport. It is not a requirement.
Formula One has seen it's fair share of drivers graduating from Formula Two (or GP2, as it was once known). Over 40 Formula Two drivers have made the jump including Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Romain Grosjean, George Russell, Mick Schumacher, to name a few. Not all of these 40+ drivers have been GP2/Formula 2 champions. Some have had the talent, some have been affiliated with F1 junior team programmes, such as the Red Bull Junior Team, and some have, dare I say it, had the money to progress. Something which the lower end F1 teams find extremely attractive. Despite these attributes, something every future F1 driver needs is a Super License. This is what stops many drivers progressing from F2 to F1.
But, how does a driver get a Super License?
A driver needs 40 or more points to their name and be over the age of 18 to qualify for a Super License. These points are awarded based on finishing positions in a championship and the amount of points awarded are based on the popularity of that series. For example, this year's Formula 2 championship was won by Felipe Drugovich. A driver that wasn't affiliated to a single F1 team. His championship win gave him 40 points, enough for a license but experience in an F1 car is also a factor and unfortunately for the Brazilian, that is what he lacked. However, it wasn't long before F1 teams were trying to snap Drugovich up. He will be reserve driver for Aston Martin in 2023 and will get an outing with the team at this years F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Talking of experience, a lot of drivers that currently race in Formula Two are affiliated to Formula One teams via their junior teams. This year eleven drivers out of a field of what will be twenty-seven drivers in total, are racing under an F1 junior team. Whether this be with Mercedes, Red Bull, Alpine or Williams etc, they are getting the experience not just in the car but also behind the scenes.
Junior teams are, in my own opinion, the BEST way for a driver to enter Formula One. Quite often, they work but sometimes they don't. It's all about availability at the time. Also, it can be tough for the driver. Being contracted to a junior team most likely blocks the path to any available seats or opportunities with other teams, although in recent years this has been relaxed.
But let's look at Red Bull. If rumours are to be believed, they will have an opening at their sister F1 team, Alpha Tauri, in 2023. This seat may be filled by Nyck de Vries; a non-Red Bull driver. Why are Red Bull looking elsewhere when they have plenty of drivers in Formula Two? I think this is pretty simple to answer. None of the Red Bull Junior Team have been performing as expected. Nyck has come into F1 and impressed on debut. They think Nyck is their best option for progression. Again, it's back to talent and experience.
Overall, I think Formula Two has been a successful way for drivers to get into F1. Of course, not everyone will get a chance. There are only 20 seats after all. But it's the perfect place for a driver to showcase their talent and the progression is there for sure. It's all about having the talent and being in the right place at the right time. Also, having a few £££ also helps.
Comments