For a while now, there’s been a lot of discussions and frustrations for Formula 1 fans over young racing drivers not getting the opportunity they deserve because of the same drivers sticking around for a long period of time. With Oliver Bearman’s superb performance for Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, these talks have only heightened which is why today’s debate is “Which Young Driver Deserves a Spot on the Formula 1 Grid the Most?” I will go over a bunch of candidates that I think are deserving of a full-time Formula 1 drive before I will give my Final Verdict at the end. Also, as always with these Debates, you will have the opportunity to vote for your choice at the end as well.
Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman is an 18-year-old British racing driver who currently drives for Prema Racing in FIA Formula 2 and also serves as a Reserve Driver for Ferrari in Formula 1. Ollie previously won both the 2021 Italian F4 and ADAC Formula 4 Championships and he also finished third in the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship. It’s worth mentioning that Bearman won his Italian F4 Title by 111 points and he was only 7 points off the Championship Title in Formula 3. So far in 2023, Ollie is yet to get off the mark in Formula 2, but that’s partly down to the fact that he stepped up for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia and ultimately finished in a brilliant P7. I think it was pretty clear that Ollie Bearman had a great shot at being with Haas in 2025, and last weekend’s performance has only skyrocketed that further.
Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson is a 22-year-old New Zealand racing driver who currently serves as the Reserve Driver for Red Bull Racing. Liam previously won the 2016-17 NZ F1600 Championship Series as well as the 2019 Toyota Racing Series and he’s also finished second in countless Championships, including DTM and Super Formula. It’s worth mentioning that Lawson won 14 of the 15 Races in his 2016-17 Championship triumph! So far in 2024, Liam is just biding his time, just waiting for an opportunity to arise either at Red Bull or Visa Cash App RB. When you consider how well Liam Lawson drove for AlphaTauri last year, it would feel very wrong if Liam didn’t have a full-time F1 seat in 2025.
Felipe Drugovich
Felipe Drugovich is a 23-year-old Brazilian-Italian racing driver who currently serves as the Test and Reserve Driver for Aston Martin’s Formula 1 Team. Felipe previously won the 2017-18 MRF Challenge 2000 Championship, the 2018 Euroformula Open Championship, and of course the 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship as well as finishing third in the 2017 ADAC Formula 4 Championship (he was only 9 points away from winning the Title). Amazingly, Drugovich won those 3 Championships by an average points gap (to second place) of 113.66 which is pretty incredible! So far in 2024, Felipe is the Test and Reserve Driver for Aston Martin and I’d probably expect him to do a few FP1 Sessions throughout the year. I still find Felipe Drugovich’s career to be bizarre because he should have a drive by now, either in Formula 1 or with Maserati MSG in Formula E.
Frederik Vesti
Frederik Vesti is a 22-year-old Danish racing driver who is set to compete in the European Le Mans Series with Cool Racing whilst also serving as the Reserve Driver for Mercedes in Formula 1. Frederik previously became the inaugural Formula Regional European Champion in 2019 (by 131 points) and he also finished second in the 2017 F4 Danish Championship as well as the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship. It is worth mentioning that Vesti missed 6 races in his 2017 Danish F4 campaign. So far in 2024, Frederick has served as one of Mercedes’ Reserve Drivers and he will compete in the European Le Mans Series (which starts in around a months time). A lot of people thought Frederick Vesti was the driver of the season in F2 last year, and had circumstances been different, I could’ve seen Mercedes pushing to get Vesti in the Williams (alongside Alex Albon).
Jack Doohan
Jack Doohan is a 21-year-old Australian racing driver who currently serves as the Reserve Driver for Alpine’s Formula 1 Team. Whilst Jack has never won a Championship before, he has finished second in both the 2019 and 2019-20 F3 Asian Championships as well as the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship. It’s also worth mentioning that Doohan did finish third in last year’s FIA Formula 2 Championship. So far in 2024, Jack is serving as Alpine’s Reserve Driver and I’d expect him to take part in multiple FP1 Sessions during the season. I’ve liked Jack Doohan for a while now, but I think Jack’s going to need at least one of the current Alpine drivers to leave before he has a genuine shot of getting on the F1 Grid (permanently).
Theo Pourchaire
Theo Pourchaire is a 20-year-old French racing driver who currently drives for Itochu Enex Team Impul in Super Formula whilst also serving as the Reserve Driver for Kick Sauber (in Formula 1). Theo previously won the 2019 ADAC Formula 4 Championship as well as last year’s FIA Formula 2 Championship and he’s also finished second in both Formula 3 (2020) and Formula 2 (2022). It’s worth mentioning that Pourchaire missed out on the 2020 F3 Title by just 3 points (to a certain Oscar Piastri). So far in 2024, Theo is yet to get off the mark in Super Formula (after 1 Race) and he will also most likely appear for Sauber at some point during the season. I rate Theo Pourchaire massively, and I’m still a bit confused as to why he’s not already on the Formula 1 Grid.
Final Verdict
After going over all 6 drivers, I have come to the conclusion that Liam Lawson deserves a spot on the Formula 1 Grid the most! Liam was so impressive last year and I think this is only heightened by the fact that a certain Visa Cash App RB driver hasn’t started the season particually well. I think Ollie Bearman’s time will definetly come whilst I’m not sure either Frederik Vesti or Jack Doohan will get a shot in Formula 1 despite their superb talent. Felipe Drugovich 100% deserves a shot in Formula 1, but it was actually Theo Pourchaire who pushed Lawson the most for me, especially given Kick Sauber’s current lineup. At the end of the day, this just proves that we need more teams on the Formula 1 Grid!
Which Young Driver do you think deserves a spot on the Formula 1 Grid the most? Please let me know down in the poll below!
Which Young Driver Deserves a Spot on the Formula 1 Grid the Most?
0%Oliver Bearman
0%Liam Lawson
0%Felipe Drugovich
0%Frederik Vesti
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