Formula 1 is becoming notoriously difficult to enter – something that Felipe Drugovich can attest to first hand.
The 2024 season marked the first time in F1 history that the driver line-up from the end of the previous year remained exactly the same for the new campaign, with no driver transfers happening or rookies entering the sport.
That is set to change in 2025, as the F1 ‘silly season’ has produced several driver transfers and new faces joining the grid, with Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli making the step up from Formula 2, as well as former F2 driver Jack Doohan. The three will join Haas, Mercedes and Alpine respectively.
However, F2 has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after Bearman and Antonelli’s promotion, considering that they are 15th and sixth respectively in the standings with three races to go. Of the last five F2 champions, only one of them made it straight to F1 the year after winning the title.
One of those unfortunate victors was Drugovich, who has endured a difficult spell since leaving F2.
Felipe Massa predicts Felipe Drugovich to do ‘great things’ in the World Endurance Championship
The Brazilian won the 2022 championship in dominant fashion, claiming the title by 101 points over Theo Pourchaire, winning five races and finishing in the points in all but four events.
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During that season, Drugovich acted as the reserve and development driver for Aston Martin. After his F2 title, he remained in that role, as well as being the reserve driver for McLaren in 2023.
The 24-year-old is still Aston Martin’s reserve driver to this day, as Lawrence Stroll has opted to retain Fernando Alonso and his son Lance Stroll for the future. Drugovich’s only racing appearances since leaving F2 has come this season, with four races in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series.
Speaking with Motorsport Brasil, former F1 driver Felipe Massa, who won 11 races with Ferrari between 2006 and 2008, believes a full-time move to the WEC will present him an opportunity to do ‘great things.’
Massa was talking about how Drugovich had lost his sponsorship and missed out on a seat with Aston Martin, when he added: “A driver needs to have one [a sponsorship] and not just the talent, but it’s right way, right? Well, to get the chance, right, and he didn’t, and now in my opinion, his situation is very difficult.
“Not as a test driver, right, as a reserve driver, but to have the chance to race, it’s very complicated. I see him going to the side and Endurance, right, WEC and [it will open] opportunities for him.
“He is a young driver and he can make a very good living from motorsport and do great things in motorsport.
“So in my opinion, I think his path will change a little for this side.”
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Aston Martin will join the WEC Hypercar class in 2025
As it happens, Drugovich does have a potential opportunity in the WEC with Aston Martin, as the team will join the Hypercar class with the Valkyrie in 2025.
The British manufacturer will also join the IMSA Championship with the machine that was inspired by Adrian Newey’s Valkyrie road car.
Aston Martin are searching for their 2025 drivers for the WEC season and have said that they are also looking outside their current crop of drivers.
However, they will no doubt consider the options they already have, and with his appearances in LMP2 this year, Drugovich will certainly be on the list as he hopes to find a permanent race seat.