The extreme dedication enabling F1’s elder statesmen to prolong elite status
For most of the past two decades Formula 1 has been an increasingly young man’s game – culminating in Max Verstappen getting a race seat before he passed his driving test. But now teams seem to be spurning youth in favour of experience. MATT KEW asks what have the likes of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton got that the young hotshots haven’t? And for how long?
Formula 1 increasingly favours the well-rehearsed. The implementation of a budget cap that trickles down to cover sick pay and catering makes it far harder for a team to sit idle as an inexperienced driver squanders points and precious pounds smearing their car into a wall. Employing a safer pair of hands behind the wheel slashes the likelihood of an upcoming upgraded front wing and revised floor edge having to be scrapped just so the accounts can stay in the black.
See Haas flicking a 23-year-old Mick Schumacher after his second term in the top flight. The European F3 and FIA F2 champion arrived with a decent CV, but a 2022 charge dogged by two seven-figure car-snapping spills led management to get shot of him in favour of rescuing Nico Hulkenberg, 35, from the sidelines. Since the team also recalled Kevin Magnussen (now 30) last year to replace ousted Russian racer Nikita Mazepin, whose rookie run was abject, Haas boss Guenther Steiner alone can take plenty of credit for the average age of the grid beginning to creep up.
How McLaren revitalised a hybrid lemon into an F1 history-maker
How McLaren revitalised a hybrid lemon into an F1 history-maker How McLaren revitalised a hybrid lemon into an F1 history-maker
The long term potential that elevates F1 2023’s star appointment
The long term potential that elevates F1 2023’s star appointment The long term potential that elevates F1 2023’s star appointment
The forgotten aspect of improving F1 engine efficiency
The forgotten aspect of improving F1 engine efficiency The forgotten aspect of improving F1 engine efficiency
The crucial detail that could determine Andretti’s F1 bid success
The crucial detail that could determine Andretti’s F1 bid success The crucial detail that could determine Andretti’s F1 bid success
How F1’s new cool customer vindicated his McLaren gamble
How F1’s new cool customer vindicated his McLaren gamble How F1’s new cool customer vindicated his McLaren gamble
Why a departing stalwart was perfectly suited to F1's most pragmatic team
Why a departing stalwart was perfectly suited to F1's most pragmatic team Why a departing stalwart was perfectly suited to F1's most pragmatic team
The multiple facets behind Sainz's growing stature at Ferrari
The multiple facets behind Sainz's growing stature at Ferrari The multiple facets behind Sainz's growing stature at Ferrari
How Andretti’s involvement could elevate the Las Vegas F1 experience
How Andretti’s involvement could elevate the Las Vegas F1 experience How Andretti’s involvement could elevate the Las Vegas F1 experience
Norris couldn’t ask for better F1 team principal than Stella
Norris couldn’t ask for better F1 team principal than Stella Norris couldn’t ask for better F1 team principal than Stella
Lamborghini “satisfied” to log over 1,000km in first US test at Daytona
Lamborghini “satisfied” to log over 1,000km in first US test at Daytona Lamborghini “satisfied” to log over 1,000km in first US test at Daytona
Why size really does matter when it comes to club racing grids
Why size really does matter when it comes to club racing grids Why size really does matter when it comes to club racing grids
Martin “didn’t enjoy” pressure of being a MotoGP title fighter
Martin “didn’t enjoy” pressure of being a MotoGP title fighter Martin “didn’t enjoy” pressure of being a MotoGP title fighter
How McLaren revitalised a hybrid lemon into an F1 history-maker
How McLaren revitalised a hybrid lemon into an F1 history-maker How McLaren revitalised a hybrid lemon into an F1 history-maker
The gizmo-laden Williams F1 car that allowed Prost to retire on top
The gizmo-laden Williams F1 car that allowed Prost to retire on top The gizmo-laden Williams F1 car that allowed Prost to retire on top
The long term potential that elevates F1 2023’s star appointment
The long term potential that elevates F1 2023’s star appointment The long term potential that elevates F1 2023’s star appointment
How F1's Verstappen era compares to Schumacher's early 2000s dominance
How F1's Verstappen era compares to Schumacher's early 2000s dominance How F1's Verstappen era compares to Schumacher's early 2000s dominance
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.