Unlocking F1's Future: Why Fernando Alonso's Plea for F2 Talent Deserves Attention
Image Credit: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Formula One is a cutthroat sport and is not for the fainthearted. Every weekend, we see the best 20 drivers on the track. It is more challenging than ever for a young driver to break into the pinnacle of motorsport, which is a problem. Fernando Alonso has expressed his concern for this major flaw in the sport today and hopes F1 can solve this problem.
Rookies Aren’t Getting Chances
Formula Two is the feeder category for F1. Many great drivers have come from F2 and succeeded in the big leagues. Yet, since Oscar Piastri, no rookies have been on the grid. The most recent championship winners still need to secure a full-time F1 seat. It is a problem because young drivers need to showcase their skills. One of the reasons why a team may be reluctant to bring in a rookie is that it takes quite a while to get up to speed. Drivers such as Logan Sargeant and Yuki Tsunoda struggled in their rookie years. In the past, you used to be allowed to do private testing, but that is no longer the case.
Fernando Alonso Gives His Thoughts On The Issue
Former two-time world champion Alonso doesn't like that F2 champions don't get the chance in F1. "It will be good to see more testing. "A couple of the big teams can afford to run an old car and set a programme," said Alonso, per RacingNews365.com. "Maybe for F2 drivers."
"[Kimi] Antonelli, he will do a programme this season. Some big teams can afford that, but proper preparation and testing are still needed.
"This is how the sport is now, and we have so many races and teams.
"Teams are already so stressed with the budget cap and all the staff that travel for these 24 races. So, it is impossible to set up a test team like in the past to train a young driver. "And we don't even have winter testing. Even if you put a rookie in your car, he will have one day and a half [of testing] before starting a World Championship. "
So that probably stops some team bosses from promoting a young driver.
"There are many things wrong with the sport, and we sometimes raise [our] voices. But hopefully someone [will] listen."
Quotes via PlantF1
Good F2 drivers should be allowed to show their skills. They should be allowed to advance their career.
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