Formula 1 is widely known as the pinnacle of motorsport, and the destination that racing drivers around the world dream of reaching one day.
Most drivers from the junior categories have dedicated their entire lives to the cause of reaching the sport and making a living from it.
So typically if it’s the top of the mountain in terms of machinery, you would expect that to be the biggest challenge of all?
That may not be the case based on the performances of rookie drivers Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto, who appear to be up to speed almost immediately with no testing mileage.
Formula 1 car is ‘easier to drive’ than a Formula 2 car
Speaking to Motorsport-Magazin, Christian Danner shared how he believes that Formula 2 cars are actually more difficult to find the limit of than Formula 1 cars.
He also added that the field strength in Formula 2 is stronger nowadays, and could be part of the reason why rookies no longer find it so difficult to graduate.
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“I think it’s probably more to do with the fact that a Formula 1 car is easier to drive,” he said. “It’s easier to get the limit than a Formula 2 car especially.
“People who weren’t allowed to practice that much – I mean Colapinto really hasn’t driven very much. Bearman they put in Ferrari and it’s somehow two race distances in Maranello.
“I have to say that this shows that the actual handling of the Formula 1 car these days, if you have the necessary talent and if you are a good driver, it’s not that incredibly difficult.”
How impressive were Bearman and Colapinto in Baku?
Both Bearman and Colapinto were outstanding for their teams at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and proved how adaptable rookies are in this age.
If Danner’s limit theory is right, having limited testing mileage has barely affected them as they hit the ground running in both of their two respective grands prix starts.
It makes it an even bigger shame for the likes of Theo Pourchaire, who despite winning the Formula 2 title last year, have still been able to find a Formula 1 chance.
There’s a surplus of admittable Formula 2 talent, and not enough seats for the drivers to fill which has been a problem forever.
There’s no immediate solution – just look at poor Liam Lawson who has been stuck without a drive for nearly two years.