They bump against the doors of F1
"All that for this!" That's what the Frijns and Valsecchis might say. Since the creation of the two "feeder series" championships to Formula 1, the GP2 and the Formula Renault 3.5, only half of the winners have secured a full-time position in the premier category.
Over the 9 seasons of GP2, a third of the champion drivers have not found a seat in F1, including… the last two champions to date. Davide Valsecchi, a (paid!) test driver for Lotus F1, was simply ignored by his employer to replace Kimi Räikkönen during his convalescence. Fabio Leimer, this year’s champion, currently has no prospects in F1.
We can also include Giorgio Pantano who, even though he competed in 14 Grand Prix with Jordan F1 before his title, failed to repeat the feat by returning to the lower class… and despite having a title in hand.
It must also be said that these three drivers are far from Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, who achieved the holy grail in their first season in GP2. They had to wait until their 4th or 5th season to be rewarded with the title.
And all that comes at a price. According to businessman Rainer Gantenbein, in 2011, Swiss Fabio Leimer’s career would have cost more than 12 million euros. He has since completed two more seasons in GP2 and a paid test session in F1 with Sauber, for which he reportedly spent nearly 300,000 euros… all for this.
It’s worse in Formula Renault 3.5. Only 3 out of 9 champions have made it to a full-time F1 seat! The first was Robert Kubica, during the debut season in 2005. The 2008 champion Giedo Van der Garde, after an unremarkable stint in GP2, managed to secure a position at Caterham F1… with the help of his wealthy father-in-law. The most recent is Kevin Magnussen, supported by McLaren. He is one of the few rookies today who doesn’t have to pay for his seat.
Exit therefore the likes of Robert Wickens, Robin Frijns, and other companions who are as capable as they are lacking in money. The ousting of the prodigy Frijns from Sauber at the start of the season caused quite a stir in the microcosm of Formula 1. The Russian Sergey Sirotkin, considered at that time, is the opposite—wealthy but inexperienced.
Even if talented, you need a wad of green bills to participate in the Formula One Circus. For example, there are the French Jules Bianchi placed at Marussia by Ferrari, and Charles Pic at Caterham with the support of the Lagardère group. Even Romain Grosjean probably wouldn’t be at Lotus if the oil company Total hadn’t given a helping hand.
Car racing is cruel… it sometimes becomes unfair when money gets involved.
