While many young drivers come through the ranks, we find only the very best make it to F1 or the other major series. However; talent is hot property and many teams don't want to try to invest in a young driver only for them to sign with a rival. Neither do they want a potential talent to go to waste. So bring to the forefront; Driver Academy's!
While they don't always work the same way that football academy's do, young driver academy's allow F1 teams to financially invest in young talent. This ensures that drivers are given cars and series to compete in. In order to prepare them for Formula One. While the success of Hamilton through the McLaren academy and Vettel through the Red Bull Academy may be the most obvious.
McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari are the three main teams, who dedicate their time and resources, other teams do have large sponsorship with Caterham, Murussia and Lotus all giving their young drivers the same livery as the F1 cars. While private organisations, like the "Racing Steps Foundation" have also given their drivers the same support. So who are the new stars of the future? Which drivers have the major teams backed?
Name
|
2014
|
2015
|
Likelihood to win title
|
Outlook for 2015
|
Red Bull
|
||||
Stoneman
|
GP3
|
FR3.5
|
High
|
After having to take time out because of
illness, 24 y/o may be too old to challenge for F1, but will be
the man to beat, after a strong 2014
|
Gasly
|
FR3.5
|
GP2
|
High
|
Losing to Sainz, means he was overlooked for T.
Rosso, but a move to DAMS should help his chances.
|
Ilott
|
Eu KF Kart
|
EuroF3
|
Med/Low
|
Fresh out of karting, he's done the same route
as Verstappen, maybe RB are hoping to strike oil twice.
|
McLaren
|
||||
Vandoorne
|
GP2
|
GP2
|
Favourite
|
“The best (GP2) rookie of
the Pirelli era” It would be a surprise if he didn't win, as he
heaps the pressure on Magnussen
|
De Vries
|
FR2.0
|
FR3.5
|
Med/ High
|
Its taken him longer than he would like to
reach this stage and will be hard to beat team mate Stoneman.
|
Barnicoat
|
FR2.0 NEC
|
FR2.0
|
Med/ High
|
While he might seem destined to win, he hasn't
joined one of the top two teams, so might be hard to get results.
|
Ferrari
|
||||
Marciello
|
GP2 (8th)
|
GP2
|
Med/High
|
The former EuroF3 Champ. Will look to chase
Vandoorne, but Trident are not a front running team, results may
vary.
|
Fuoco
|
EuroF3 (5)
|
GP3
|
Favourite
|
Having joined the champion team and performing
in F3, he would need some talented opposition to challenge him.
|
Stroll
|
Italy F4
|
EuroF3
|
Medium
|
Having won the Toyota Racing Series in January,
he has the momentum, but is it too much too soon for the Canadian.
|
Zhou
|
Eu Chall. Kart
|
Italy F4
|
High(ish)
|
Its hard to judge his performance having come
out of Karts, but it means he will directly be compared to
Stroll's result.
|
Lotus
|
||||
Ocon
|
EuroF3
|
N/a
|
N/a
|
Future unclear. He missed out on a DAMS GP2
seat and Lotus 3rd Driver. But he's beaten Verstappen
and impressed Ferrari in tests at only 18. Likely future star.
|
Sorensen
|
GP2/FR3.5
|
GP2
WEC
|
Med/ High
Low/ Med
|
He may be in a top team, but can Sorensen use
his experience, or will his long term future be in Endurance
Racing
|
Fontana
|
GP3 (11th)
|
GP3
|
Med/High
|
Another disappointing year in GP3 has left him
with an uncertain future. Now with a top GP3 team.
|
Tunjo
|
FR3.5 (22)
|
FR3.5
|
Low
|
Loyalty with Pons Racing may help his chances,
but remains an outside hope for the title. Didn't outscore his
2014 partner
|
Stockinger
|
FR3.5 (9)
|
GP2
|
Low/ Mid
|
He's rumoured to be MP Motorsports new driver,
but his Lotus future maybe be threatened if the results don't
come.
|
Albon
|
FR2.0
|
EuroF3
|
Medium
|
A Former Red Bull Young Driver, will be hard to
judge at a new team, but his 2.0 result shows he has potential.
|
Bocculacci
|
FrenchF4
|
EuroF3
|
Medium
|
Team mate to Albon, it will be easy to judge
his form. But will be hard in a competitive series with a poor
car.
|
Racing Steps Foundation
|
||||
Dennis
|
EuroF3 (9)
|
EuroF3
|
V.High
|
Now with the defending champions and having got
experience, he must surely have high hopes.
|
Rowland
|
FR3.5 (4)
|
FR3.5
|
V. High
|
Not finished lower than 4th in any
championship since 2010. Will be expecting much success in 2015.
|
Harvey
|
IndyLights
|
IndyLights
|
Favourite
|
Also won the BritF3 title in 2012. Looks set to
be one of Britain’s top drivers not in European racing.
|
Barnicoat
|
FR2.0 NEC
|
FR2.0
|
Med/ High
|
With Support from Racing Steps and Mclaren,
he's sure to be well supported.
|
Key:
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
(9) Position in Series
|
Italics: Rumoured Series
|
So, there we go. However; this isn't something new, this has been going on for years, while Torro Rosso make the amount of wasted talent more obvious, what happens to all those who never make it. Or who's parent team is too big to take them on. What about the Ferrari young boys, if they do get to Formula One, what are the chances that the Scuderia will clear a space for them
-|RacingRecaps|-
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