Although I expect the Turnover to be Much Higher in
Indy Cars shortly…
Last week Thee Original Iceman, nee Kimi and
His Oomphlats’, aka Kimi Raikkonen announced his retirement from Formula 1 at
the end of this season, ending a career in Ye Pinnacle ‘O Motorsports that covers
two decades, albeit having been on Sabbatical between 2010-2011 when he tried
his hand as a World Rally Championship (WRC) driver.
At Age 41, Raikkonen is not only the Elder
Statesman of Formula 1, but arguably it’s current Ironman, as he’ll become the
first F1 Driver to ever start 350 Grands Prix at Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Street
race in Jeddah on December 5th, provided no more major interruptions
due to Covid in this year’s schedule. (Uhm, that was Prophetic)
As Raikkonen’s just completed his 342nd
start at Zandvoort, and is Zeroing in upon a milestone once thought incomprehensible.
As Kimi eclipsed the previous record holder Rubino’, aka Rubens Barrichello’s
feat of 322 Starts last October at the Nurburgring’s Eiffel Grand Prix.
Having scribbled that prior to Kimi testing
positive for COVID 19 at Zandvoort and being replaced by Alfa Romeo Reserve
Driver Robert Kubica, meaning Kimi’s still on 341 Grands Prix Starts prior to
Monza. Although Raikkonen’s long ago said he doesn’t care about records…
And although Kimi’s departure theoretically opens
one seat on the F1 grid for Alfa Romeo, we’re all Ah-Waitin’ the confirmation
of the worst kept secret of fellow countryman Valtteri Bottas, Kimi’s Bosom
buddy taking his seat for 2022.
Guess now that Valtteri’s finally been
officially confirmed at Alfa Romeo on a multi-year contract beginning next
year, the question is who’ll be his team-mate?
Thus Fredrico Suave, aka Fernando Alonso now 40
will take over the mantle of Elder Statesman in F1 next season, and with his
confirmation plus Esteban Ocon on a long term contract, there’s no place for the
Junior alpine Academy drivers to go.
Alpine Academy
Christian
Lundgaard, Denmark; (2017) Guanyu Zhou, China; (2019) Oscar Piastri, Australia
(2020)
(Year = When
Entered Programme)
As why do I bring this up? Well you’re All
aware of current Alpine Academy driver Christian Lundgaard who’s currently
contesting his Sophomore campaign in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, The final
rung on the ladder into Formula 1. As the Dane’ recently made his IndyCar Debut
in a “One Off” appearance for Bubbie Ruble and Company during the August 14th
IMS Road Course race, part of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s “gong Show”
tryout for who’ll potentially drive it’s third #45 entry in 2022.
Ferrari Driver Academy
Marcus
Armstrong, New Zealand; (2017) Callum Ilott, UK; (2017) Robert Shwartzman,
Russia; (2017) Mick Schumacher, Germany (2019)
As we know, Juncos Hollinger Racing recently
announced the news that it will put Ferrari Academy Driver Callum Ilott behind
the wheel of it’s #77 Dallara/Chevy
IndyCar at Portland, as the team reboots
itself with contesting the West coast’s final three IndyCar races before
going Fulltime in 2022.
As Ilott’s currently the Ferrari F1 Test and
Alfa Romeo Reserve Driver, and just finished third in the LM GTE Am Class at Le
Mans, naturally aboard a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo. Whilst I’m slightly Cornfuzed
over why Mick Schumacher who’s contesting his rookie season in Formula 1 for
the Haas F1 Team is still a “Junior” Driver?
Red Bull Junior Team
Juri
Vips, Estonia; (2018) Liam Lawson, New Zealand; (2019) Jehan Daruvala, India
(2020)
As it’s interesting how some of the “Major”
Players in Formula 1 are seeking alternative “High Octane” Series for their
prospective future F1 Pilotes to stay sharp in. As some Noise was made when
current Red Bull “Junior” Alexander Albin visited Mother Speedway’s Paddock
during the second (IMS) Indianapolis Road Race, and even sat in Romain Grosjean’s
Dale Coyne IndyCar cockpit just to get a feel. Although Red Bull’s currently trying
to find a seat for Albin in Formula 1 next year either at Alfa Romeo or
Williams.
Sauber Junior Team (Alfa Romeo)
Theo
Pourchaire , France(2019
Reportedly Alfa Romeo F1 Team Boss Frederic
Vassdur is very High upon Monsieur Pourchaire who’s contesting his rookie
season in F2. And thus the possible signing of Albin would potentially be a
Roadblock for the young Frenchman’s advancement to Formula 1, since you’d think
Albin would want more than a one year deal? Thus should alfa keep current F1 driver
Antonio Giovinazzi, who just had his best ever Qualifying result at
Zandvoort for one more season as a “Stop Gap?” As who
knows what the Swiss based F1 outfit will do?
Williams Driver Academy
Jamie
Chadwick, UK; (2019) Jack Aitken, UK; (2020) Roy Nissany, Israel (2020
I included Jamie Chadwick’s name since she’s
the reigning Womens W Series Champion and currently is tied at 109 points in a
fierce fight with Alice Powel for this year’s title, with Powell holding the tiebreaker
with three wins to Chadwick’s two.
Jack Aitken and Roy Nissany are both Formula 2
Journeymen and cannot be considered as potential F1 Graduates. While it would
seem Odd for Team Willy’ to take Red Bull’s Albin over Mercedes “Junior” Nyck De
Bries, the reigning Formula E Champion, since Williams runs Merc’ PU’s (Power
Unit) and Drivetrains.
As Aitmen who’s Williams Reserve Driver
suffered fractures to his collar bone and vertebrae, plus a Bruised lung during
a Massive Shunt during the opening hour of this year’s Spa 24 Hours race aboard
a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, and is still recovering a month later.
Other F1 Driver Academy’s
With the exception of Callum Ilott, Mick Schumacher
and Jamie Chadwick above, the rest are All current Formula 2 Drivers, and some
of the programmes have many more Junior Members on their Books, but I only focused
upon F2 since these are the most likely to graduate to F1 or alternatively
IndyCar.
McLaren currently has No members in it’s Young
Driver Programme, while Mercedes highest Junior Team Driver is Frederik Vesti
in the FIA Formula 3 championship.
Haas only has Pietro Fittipaldi who contested his
Debutante Indy 500 this May on it’s Development “Scheme,” but is effectively
Ferrari’s F1 Junior Team.
Aston Martin doesn’t have a programme at the
moment, while AlphaTauri as we know are the ‘lil bulls, aka Red Bull Racing’s “B
Team” and thus, share the Energy Drinks “Development Pool” with the Big Bullz’.
As it’s interesting how times have changed,
since Raikkonen was an exception when he began Formula 1 twenty years ago. Having
won 13 out of the 23 scant “Junior” category Single seater races entered, including
winning the 2000 Formula Renault UK Championship before jumping straight into Peter
Sauber’s F1 Team despite the protests of then major backer Deeter Majestik’,
nee Dietrich Mateschitz. Not to mention then
FIA President Max Mosley, who put him on a four race probation period.
As I Arse-sume it’s just coInky-dense that Red Bull began it’s Junior Driver programme that same year? When Danny Sullivan was helping them to find the next American Formula 1 Driver, Y’all remember Scotty “The Goose” Speed?