Racers named talented rivals who didn’t get into F1

Many Formula 1 drivers have competed in other series since karting, but as there are only 20 places in the World Cup teams, many talented drivers have not been able to reach the top tier of motorsport for various reasons.

This season Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are battling for the title, but the history of their battle on the track started more than a decade ago, when both battled for victories on the go-kart tracks in Europe. And recently they were asked: which of their former rivals do they consider to be the best racers who never made it to Formula 1?

“I asked myself the same question at a younger age: how many of us will ever end up in Formula 1?” replied the Ferrari driver. – Many of those I thought of then, even most of them, now play in the World Cup. But I I remember there were three more that I thought would come into F1 but they weren’t lucky, although there were other reasons that prevented this, these three are Dennis Olsen, Ben Barnicote and Niklas Nielsen.

But they still compete in races, and quite successfully in my opinion. But I think it also confirms that even if you have almost everything to break through in Formula 1, sometimes you need a little luck. It’s important to be in the right place at the right time.”

For example, in 2022 Olsen will compete in championships such as the DTM and the American IMSA series, where he takes 3rd place in the individual classification of the GTD Pro category, and Barnicote plays for the McLaren works team in the WEC and also combines this with IMSA.

Verstappen declined to give specific names: “It’s not just that karting isn’t F1. Even if you have had success in karting, this is no guarantee that you will perform as well in Formula 1. Of course many good racers are now in different categories of motorsport.

Of course, there were quite a few good karters that didn’t reach their potential when they switched to youth formulas. But the other way around has also happened.”

And this is how Valtteri Bottas answered this question: “When I was karting in Finland, there were so many promising racers, but they had no financial support at all. A pity of course and our sport cannot be called fair. But of course you have to be in the right place at the right time.

But the best kart driver I’ve ever seen on the track was a guy named Jussi Kohtala. Incredibly talented, but he didn’t even have the chance to perform in youth formulas. And now he runs a karting team.”

Carlos Sainz abstained from a specific answer: “I have maintained good friendships with many people with whom I participated in the youth championships. And of course there are three to five guys who, in my opinion, could have succeeded in Formula 1, but have not been able to get to this level…”

George Russell responded even more diplomatically: “You see, when I made my debut in European karting, Max and Charles were winning races and always leading the way. And for them, Alex Albon won there.

And now we are all together in Formula 1. In general, I had to compete with exceptionally talented racers, but I will continue to compete with everyone I valued very much then and now.