What a shame: Nyck de Vries and Oscar Piastri not in Formula One

[Bram Hengeveld]

Just had to share that dramatic title. What do both these drivers have to do to get a seat in the pinnacle of motorsport? They both could not have won more titles in feeder series.

 

[Hoksu]

Have a really rich dad willing to bankroll the team, or be able to bring lucrative sponsorship deals, or have pull in a really major market area like China. Basically, ability to bring a huge amount of money to the team.

Imo that slightly damages F1's credibility as the "pinnacle of motorsport".

 

[JayOTT]

In Piastri's case the answer is hopefully "wait one season". He's already on the reserve list for both Alpine and McLaren, and if Alpine doesn't make a spot available next year there should be several other teams jumping at the chance to poach him.

de Vries though may be the unluckiest driver since Jorg Muller in regards to what was available in F1 at the moment his stock was highest. McLaren's pairing was set by the time de Vries looked like a viable option for them, and Latifi was in the better position to fill the Williams opening when it came up. This is where having only 10 teams hurts F1, as an 11th or 12th team might have given de Vries more of a chance to get in even if it was at a backmarker team, rather than him having to join a mickey mouse racing league because they don't let F2 champions stay in F2.

 

[ParkYongLee]

Imagine F1 champions could not stay in F1, they could create an "F1 Champions League"

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

In Piastri's case the answer is hopefully "wait one season".

That is what they have said to De Vries as well. He won Formula E during that one season and still doesn't get a drive in F1

 

[Antony Snook]

Look at the Andretti Family. Famous for racing in F1 Indy and NASCAR. And even have money to get into F1 as a team. Yes money is a factor and politics over what you want to do and who will do it. F1 is a Pirana club. And its very sink or swim, if you sink you will be devoured by the Piranhas at the bottom.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Not really true, there are enough big talents without a budget who made it into F1. Hamilton, Verstappen, Hulkenberg to name a few.

 

[JayOTT]

That is what they have said to De Vries as well. He won Formula E during that one season and still doesn't get a drive in F1

Something else to consider is that, with so few seats available for those with less sponsorship, taking 3 seasons to win F2 can cause a driver's stock to stall unfairly. "He only won because he's much more experienced in that car" is the argument. In this regard, Piastri has a perfect junior record as opposed to "merely" a great one since he won F3 and F2 in one attempt each. Hence why I'm less worried about him not making it.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Hence why I'm less worried about him not making it.

But with which team?

 

[JayOTT]

Took a while for an answer to come to that question, but there are reports that Williams will sign Piastri on loan to replace Latifi, possibly as early as Silverstone or the mid-season break.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Took a while for an answer to come to that question, but there are reports that Williams will sign Piastri on loan to replace Latifi, possibly as early as Silverstone or the mid-season break.

That would be fantastic for Piastri

 

[slideways]

But he'll still be in a Williams...

 

[JayOTT]

But he'll still be in a Williams...

Regardless of where, the best way to stay relevant in F1 seat talks is to actually be in F1 in the first place. You can't pull a Hamilton anymore and jump straight into a top team.

Those reports I mentioned seem confined to Australian news outlets for now so if they turn out false that's the homer tabloid's fault, but given that it's multiple outlets reporting the same thing it may yet expand to something tangible. We'll likely know more by Silverstone.

 

[JayOTT]

Things may yet work out for De Vries after all. Just when it seemed like his career stalled out with a poor attempt to defend his Formula E title... one off chance at Williams, 9th place, driver of the day. That'll get people talking about him for 2023 at least.

 

[Durge Driven]

Just had to share that dramatic title. What do both these drivers have to do to get a seat in the pinnacle of motorsport? They both could not have won more titles in feeder series.

How about Nick Cassidy

2 Toyota Racing Series
3 New Zealand Grand Prix
Japan Formula 3
Super GT
Super Formula