Feature: Experience Weighs on Wilson's Career

Justin Wilson could handle being told that he was too tall for Formula One.

The lanky Briton overcame his lack of funds as well, selling shares in himself to raise more than $1.5 million to secure a race debut with Minardi this year.

But, after just 16 races, the 25-year-old now faces another career obstacle he surely never dreamt of - too much experience.

Jaguar want the Briton to be their test driver after announcing on Tuesday that Austrian Christian Klien will partner Australian Mark Webber next season instead of Wilson, who completed the season with them.

But, as things stand, they cannot use him.

Next year all but the four top ranked teams can run a third car in Friday practice at race weekends, providing the driver has a superlicence but has not raced in six or more Grands Prix in the past two years. That rules out Wilson.

"It's the first time that I can think of in Formula One where a driver can be (considered) over-qualified to drive a car," said his manager, the former Grand Prix driver Jonathan Palmer of the situation.

"I can understand the desire of the top four teams to maintain a competitive advantage but is this in the best interests of F1?" he added. "It's not the fairest rule around and it's hard to believe that it will have a very long life after next year."

Locked Out

The rule affects a list of drivers seeking to keep their careers ticking over and leaves the 1.90 metre tall Wilson pinning his hopes on a return to Minardi - money permitting.

Briton Allan McNish and Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia, both experienced testers with races under their belts, are also effectively locked out after losing their jobs.

The rule was accepted in October when teams agreed to scrap a two-hour Friday morning private session reserved for those who agreed to limit testing away from the racetrack.

It was designed to help cut testing costs, while also giving young drivers Formula One experience in a race environment and providing a means for teams to raise extra one-off sponsorship.

The big teams, limited to just two cars, insisted on the experience limit to prevent their rivals from gaining too much benefit. Some have questioned whether the rule would stand up to European employment laws, but the practical truth is that any challenge could take years to resolve by which time it would be too late to do the driver any good.

In the meantime Wilson has lost out to a 20-year-old who drove a Formula One car for the first time only last week and has not yet had enough time to obtain a superlicence.

Klien undoubtedly has promise and Jaguar point to the examples of Finland's Kimi Raikkonen and Briton Jenson Button, who both made young debuts with minimal experience, to overcome doubts about him.

Wilson had his chance and was unlucky. In the end, Ford-owned Jaguar chose not to keep him on and it was a decision they say was based on talent and potential.

The money Klien can bring from energy drink Red Bull - reported at up to $15 million - must have concentrated their minds, however.

Commercial Interests

"Commercial issues do come into play," agreed Palmer. "It wasn't because of any lack of interest in his race driving ability that Justin didn't get the drive."

The experience limit could be overturned if team bosses agree unanimously at a meeting of the FIA's world motorsport council in Paris next week but the chances of that happening are extremely remote.

"There are no plans to change the driver rule," said an FIA spokesman, who said the teams had already discussed the matter at length and voted for it.

Only Minardi and Jordan have race seats available but both teams are short of funding themselves and will require some sponsorship from their drivers. Palmer, who has talked to both, remained optimistic that a solution could be found.

"We are optimistic that we may be able to do something," he said. "We've had discussions with Minardi mainly and a little bit with Jordan. Our horizons are very much focused on Formula One."