Ralf Schumacher voices his worries as Formula 1 faces a year without rookies, underscoring a significant shift towards valuing experienced drivers.
This season marks the first time in the modern history of the sport that not a single rookie will be on the grid.
Mercedes-backed driver Kimi Antonelli, who is currently just 17 years old, could break this trend next year, but there’s no denying that the value of older and more experienced drivers has skyrocketed recently.
Even Sebastian Vettel, aged 36, is now linked to a sensational return to F1 for 2025. According to some sources, he is very interested in the Mercedes F1 seat, while others claim he is not keen on diving back in!
“Unless he can use sustainable fuels, he won’t come back,” Schumacher tempers, however.
What he does agree on, though, is that aging is no longer a significant disadvantage in Formula 1.
“But that’s exactly why I’m a bit worried about the trend in Formula 1 in general. Drivers are getting older and older.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Fernando Alonso is still driving brilliantly. But I worry for the young. For the second time, we have a Formula 2 champion who hasn’t ended up in Formula 1, but is instead looking for opportunities in Japan or the United States.”
“In the United States, the sport is much less expensive and you can still make a lot of money,” Schumacher adds, referring to Indycar.
“Formula 1 cannot be happy about this trend.”
“Maybe we should think about creating a junior team supported by everyone, to give young talent a real chance again.”
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