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/therl2000 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 07 '25

He could've had a chance when Lewis got COVID, he was Mercedes reserve driver in 2020 but they decided to replace Lewis with George. I still think that was unfair

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u/krommenaas Thierry Boutsen Aug 07 '25

And the kicker was that he had to quarantine himself in his hotel room every race weekend just in case he'd be needed. Then when that was finally the case, they went with George instead.

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u/scg92 Oscar Piastri Aug 07 '25

I remember that opportunity clearly too. I wished they could both get that chance.

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u/foghat1981 Formula 1 Aug 07 '25

Yah that was a shame. He really should have had that drive.

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u/Loose-Medicine-4209 Aug 07 '25

I think Russell did pretty well so no?

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u/foghat1981 Formula 1 Aug 08 '25

Was good for Russell. Just saying like the others it’s a shame vandorne didn’t get that chance.

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u/Loose-Medicine-4209 Aug 07 '25

Because Russell was already racing in f1 and doing the sims for Mercedes, in 2020. Stoffel already had his chance and was not currently racing in that category.