After Oliver Bearman's last minute call up to make his Formula One debut in Jeddah, stepping in for an unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, the discussion surrounding the opportunities that are readily available in F1 for young drivers has fired up once again. And, there is no doubt that this is a stark reminder of how difficult it actually is for young drivers to make their way into Formula One. In short, motorsport, specifically F1, is "cut-throat," and many aspiring young drivers get their dreams snatched away from them before it's even begun, as they experience the harsh reality of becoming professional racing drivers. It is, what is called, a "doggy-dog world."
The biggest issue surrounding young drivers and their journey's into Formula One is that there just isn't enough seats on the grid for everyone. The amount of teams and drivers that are field in Formula One has considerably fluctuated over the years. For example, in 2011 there were 12 teams and 24 drivers. In 2024, it's now 10 teams and 20 drivers, thus no more room at the inn. But, should it be the incredibly talented juniors that take the brunt of missing out, over others, who say, have money? That's how things seem to transpire in this day and age of Formula One.
In hindsight, talent doesn't seem to be enough to guarantee a seat in the "pinnacle" of motorsport. Look at recent Formula 2 winners, Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire, both of whom have failed to secure a seat for 2023 and 2024 respectively. The introduction of junior teams/academies, some years ago, opened a whole new world for younger drivers, but, even the opportunities within seemed to have dwindled, with some teams opting for experience over fresh blood. But, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Drivers such as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton still have what it takes and can teach younger drivers a thing or two. The main issues lay within the drivers who are not performing. It is, so to speak, a waste of a Formula One seat. Especially with the large pool of talent out in the wild. So, hypothetically speaking, what can be done to improve the issue? Bearman, as well as Liam Lawson, have both proved sometimes a chance on a rookie is worth taking.
What comes to mind immediately is that F1 needs more teams. More teams means more seats means more chances for the up and coming generations. However, F1 doesn't seem to want anymore teams, so that option is already out of the window, for now. So, if that is a no go, what about teams fielding a third car? With costs of running an F1 team as high as they are, some of the smaller teams may be vulnerable to folding if a third car was to come in to play. With the current state of things, it's difficult to find a solution to the infamous young driver problem.
But, F1 IS trying, in some way, shape and form, in making the series more accessible, with teams required to give a young rookie two free practice sessions per season. The perfect opportunity to maximise experience, as well as selling themselves to the world of Formula One. Despite this, in 2024, not one rookie, apart from Bearman's last minute call up; lines up on the start line for a Formula One race, which brings us full circle to there not being enough race seats once again.
It's a shame that over the years we've seen many a talent come to realise that their future does not lie in F1. But maybe, this is the mindset young drivers need to go forward with. Formula One, despite it's prestige, isn't everything, and plenty of opportunities lay elsewhere in the world of motorsport.
What do you think? Leave your opinions in the comments below!
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