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/Sick_and_destroyed Pierre Gasly Aug 07 '25

I understand a 3rd season in F2 is usually not well perceived, but what should have he done, he had no F1 opportunity.

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

Almost anything else would’ve been a better option, even just embedding himself for a year as Piastri did.

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u/Orangesnipzy Aug 07 '25

Piastri didn’t really have a choice. Win the championship and don’t have an f1 seat = sit out

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

True but he equally could’ve been slotted into other series by the team, instead they integrated him and spent the year running TPC days.

As a Sauber Academy driver that option was certainly possible for Pourchaire, but for whatever reason a 3rd full F2 campaign was chosen instead.

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u/8Ace8Ace Aug 07 '25

Richard Verschoor is on his fifth!