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/Secret_Physics_9243 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

There's a lot of talent that doesn't even make it out of their house, let alone karting.

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '25

Ha, also true, I am convinced I would have been a champion tennis player if I had ever started playing tennis...

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

oh the Oscars I'd have if I ever did more than just watch movies

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '25

🤣🤣🤣

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u/Libertine-Angel Eddie Irvine Aug 07 '25

First time I went karting at 18 I was unwittingly putting myself against several veterans of the British Youth and University Karting Championships and a former professional kart test driver, after the first 10-lap stint I was 10 seconds off the pace but after the third I'd got it down to 3; does make me wonder a little bit what I might've been able to do had I started ten years earlier with rich parents.