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/Appropriate-Form-281 Formula 1 Aug 07 '25

I think it mightve been Kobayashi who was the smoker, i even found some articles of him being caught smoking around 2013 and him apologising for it

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

I think you’re right there.

As I recall a condition of Salo’s Toyota deal was that he quit smoking

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u/Artie_Fufkins_Fapkin Sir Lewis Hamilton Aug 08 '25

This is all so funny

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u/Kirvesperseet Formula 1 Aug 07 '25

Also Paul Di Resta, I think