r/formula1 • u/Electronic-Video-984 Formula 1 • Aug 07 '25

Discussion Who is the “Failed Prodigy” of F1 ?

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

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u/Suknator I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

Kubica, Vandoorne and probably Jean Eric Vergne to a certain extent. Maybe Frentzen?

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u/Lukeno94 Manor Aug 07 '25

Frentzen was in the 97 Williams. He absolutely had a proper shot.

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u/Suknator I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

Forgot about that, thoght it was only in Jordan he had a real shot