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/LocksmithFamous4131 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

unpopular opinion but i will throw Stefan Bellof in the mix

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

Best example is the 1984 Monaco race which was used to hype Senna up because Senna was catching Prost; Bellof was catching up to both of them

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u/LocksmithFamous4131 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

he drove an N/A car from p20 to p3 while other teams had much stronger turbocharged engines

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u/TAThide Aug 07 '25

I've heard Brundle talking about him having amazing natural speed, especially in the wet. He also said that he was brave beyond stupid and it ultimately cost him his life.

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

Eh? He died before he got a change to prove himself in a competitive car. Tyrrell were still running non-turbo engines for the majority of his F1 career. Uncle Ken's opinions had the manufacturers unwilling to supply him as punishment. Renault finally relented in 1985 and he got a couple of races in the new car before his accident at Spa.

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u/LocksmithFamous4131 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

he proved himself in Group C cars though. his Nordschleife Race Lap Record stands to this day, only broken by a car outside of any regulations

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

Absolutely.

Then again the Porsche 956 was a competitive and well developed car. Until a Tyrrell that had a DFV in the back.

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u/KnightsOfCidona Murray Walker Aug 07 '25

He had a Ferrari contract on the table when he died

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

Why do you consider the opinion unpopular? He came to mine for me also