The rise of Bearman and Colapinto highlights the remarkable effectiveness of F1 academies in preparing future racing stars.
After several years of witnessing a certain hesitation from F1 teams towards young drivers, 2024 has marked a breakthrough for academy talents. Oliver Bearman raced for Ferrari and Haas, finishing in the points twice, while Franco Colapinto opened his points tally in just three races with Williams.
For Jock Clear, former head of Ferrari’s academy and current performance engineer for Scuderia, this proves that the work done in the academies is well-prepared to equip young drivers with the skills needed for Formula 1.
“I think it’s a testament to all the academies,” Clear said on the F1 Nation podcast. “How is it possible that Bearman can jump into a car he’s barely driven, qualify 11th, and climb to seventh in his very first race, having never tested that car?”
“I believe today’s simulators are extremely advanced, and this is a natural progression of technology. As soon as you tell an F1 team ‘you can no longer do testing,’ the teams aggressively develop other ways to accomplish the same task.”
According to the engineer, reduced testing isn’t a limitation for drivers: “No one in F1 ever accepts that if you can’t test, you’re doomed to be less prepared than before. No, everyone in F1 asks, ‘how can we ensure we’re just as prepared as we were?’”
“The accuracy of simulators today is such that what we’re seeing with Colapinto and Ollie is the result. In fact, when they arrive here, none of this is unfamiliar. They know what to do with the tires. They know what to expect. The virtual circuit they drive in the simulator is incredibly precise.”
“A lot of what we do here with our young drivers happens in the classroom. We give them lessons, talk to them about how the car works, brake balance, and how to manage the tires, and I hope what you’re seeing with Ollie and Franco is the outcome of that education.”
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Young F1 Talents Shine, Validating Academy Training Young F1 Talents Shine, Validating Academy Training
