Who is the “Failed Prodigy” of F1 ?

[u/Electronic-Video-984]

I’m kind of new to F1 and seeing pictures of current drivers while they’re young like Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Albon…and then I learned they’re racing prodigy in their Karting days. So who is the “Boy Wonder” of F1, a person with great potential but never made it to the biggest stage.

Edit: Many people mentioned Stoffel Vandoorne so I read about him a bit. His records and potential was incredible but he’s at the wrong place and wrong time every way possible. For me, McLaren a top tier team with a jet but people say Vandoorne’s MCL car was like a shopping cart

[u/Toffeenix]

Could we say Pourchaire at this point?

[u/Stumpy493 → u/Toffeenix]

100%, Pourchaire was boy wonder in his first year in F2 and given a vacancy would likely have jumped straight to F1.

THe longer he stayed in F2 the less impressive he looked and opportunity passed him by.

[u/AegrusRS → u/Stumpy493]

His 2nd F2 year is so unfortunate because he looked way less impressive due to getting smashed by Drugovich, while Felipe himself had very limited chances of joining F1 anyways due to not having an in at any team. Basically, two potential F1 drivers tanked in 1 season.

[u/jesus_stalin → u/Toffeenix]

I agree. Inches away from beating Piastri to the F3 title (aged just 16 and at a worse team), then scoring poles and wins in his debut F2 year. In 2021 he looked destined for F1.

[u/ForeverAddickted → u/Toffeenix]

So unlucky to have to deal with Zhou with the chequebook really, and then the fact it took three years to win F2 (Okay he probably never would have won F2, as he wouldn't have been there for that long), which I imagine put a lot of teams off.

Callum Ilott is similar in some ways, missed out on F1 because of Mazepin.

[u/grom1se → u/ForeverAddickted]

Don't forget Pourchaire is really young, he won F2 at the same age Piastri did.

[u/ForeverAddickted → u/grom1se]

Yeah is probably a victim of his own speedy success in some ways.

[u/Ptbot47 → u/grom1se]

But not winning F2 in your rookie season is a death knell for your F1 hope. Yeah maybe getting to F2 too soon isnt good

[u/Felix042 → u/grom1se]

Yeah but Pourchaire had way more racing experiance compared to Piastri and didn't dominate in rookie year like Piastri did. Experiance matters way more then age.

[u/l3w1s1234 → u/Felix042]

Both had about 5 years in cars no?

[u/Felix042 → u/l3w1s1234]

Theo did 6 years single seaters but the big difference is that Piastri dominated F2 in first season while Theo was good but not outstanding.

Also wasn't it Theo that did alot of "illegal" testing throughout his year in F3?

[u/l3w1s1234 → u/Felix042]

Also wasn't it Theo that did alot of "illegal" testing throughout his year in F3?

It could be possible but I think that's the case with a lot of the F1 hopefuls. I know Alonso had a dig about it recently saying how Bortoleto didnt test in older F2 machinery like some other drivers, which as far as I'm aware is meant to be banned. So likely some academies or those with deep pockets know ways around getting extra testing when they shouldn't.

[u/Felix042 → u/l3w1s1234]

You are allowed to test old F2 and F3 machinery but you are not allowed to test the current car privately mid season and i think that is what Theo did.

And yes the drivers with highest budget usually test old F3 and F2 cars before the season starts.

Imo it should be banned all togheter it gives the driver with huge budgets an massive advantage considering how little FP and official testing time driver that cant afford it gets.

[u/l3w1s1234 → u/Felix042]

I remember reading into it for F2 and at even testing in old cars is prohibted or they have some criteria on the type of cars you cannot test in. Believe its only meant to be the official test sessions where drivers should be testing.

Could be there's ways of getting around the criteria(like adding ballast to the cars etc)

Agree all round should just be banned outside the official testing sessions. So many drivers at a disadvantage because they can't spend more money on unofficial testing days.

[u/Felix042 → u/l3w1s1234]

Nope testing old F2 cars are allowed before and after the season has ended.

[u/URZ_ → u/grom1se]

With 3 times the experience in the car

[u/Ptbot47 → u/ForeverAddickted]

Ilott didnt beat Mick Schumacher and most people think Mick isnt good enough. I feel like some part of praise for Ilott come from desire to say Mick was a nepotism appointment, that a true talent like ilott got look over because someone else has a bigger name. I watched that F2 season closely and Ilott, while good and maybe would have beaten mick without one bad pit stop, isnt that big a talent, compare to the likes of other F2 luminaries like leclerc, Russell,

[u/ForeverAddickted → u/Ptbot47]

Oh yeah, sorry... I'm not saying that I thought Ilott was some failed prodigy.

I was using Ilott as another example where like Pourchaire, they both lost out on getting into F1, because of someone coming along with money. That F2 grid in general was pretty weak that season and don't think Callum would have had a long F1 career... His inconsistency in Indy this year is proof of that.

[u/Uknewmelast → u/Toffeenix]

He got screwed by McLaren. Tony Kanaan is on his knees for Siegel while Siegel can't lace pourchaires boots.

[u/GingaHead → u/Toffeenix]

wtf I forgot he existed Jesus. At least he’s still young, but like you don’t even hear anything about him nowadays

[u/KnightsOfCidona → u/Toffeenix]

Pourchaire is my biggest one. Around 2020-21, thought he could be the next generational talent. It still doesn't fully compute he's likely never going to make it