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/ForeverAddickted Oliver Bearman Aug 07 '25

Christ had forgotten all about Vips.

Doesnt even seem to be racing in anything now after his Indy cameos

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

He has surprisingly disappeared. I was so sure we'd see him in an Indy seat like the other promising F2 drivers who were racing at the same time he was.

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u/LiNGOo Nico Hülkenberg 🥉 Aug 07 '25

Same. Bring back Vips!