4 replies to this topic

[August]

The recent GP2 champs have had trouble to get an F1 seat whereas some drivers like Verstappen come to F1 from F3, Bottas from GP3, or Ricciardo from WSR3.5. So, is GP2 really the pinnacle of lower formulae?

I concentrate on the biggest feeder series, GP2, WSR3.5, GP3, and European F3. It seems like the talent is spotted way before GP2. The biggest talents get to F1 past GP2. Of course, there are exceptions like Vandoorne in GP2. But I'd put WSR3.5 and GP3 in front of GP2 as a feeder series. There might even be an argument to put F3 ahead of GP2. While there are drivers who won't make it past F3 in single-seaters, F3 may have more future F1 drivers than GP2 has. Then again, F3 is few ladders behind GP2.

So, what do you think? Discuss!

Edited by August, 21 November 2014 - 21:04.

[KWSN - DSM]

1) F3

...

12) WSR3.5

13) GP2

14) GP3

 

I detest the spec series which have made racing less interesting over the past decade and a half, any series with mandated cars and engines are a lessor series than one which allow multiple manufacturers of cars and engines to be entered.

 

The ladder of formula racing used to be:

 

FFord

F2000

F3

F2 - Often bypassed

F1

 

We should get back to something like that, I know it will not happen and disagree with all the arguments for why it is a bad idea.

 

[A3]

Well, depends on the driver, I guess.

 

Take Max for example, constructed out of racing DNA, he was simply raised to be an F1 driver. I don't think we have seen this before. The amount of racing he did in karts is amazing. He crammed 7 (2013) and 9 (2012) karting championships in one year. If he had been put in an GP2 car for 2015, it would only have stalled his progress and annoy him.

[KWSN - DSM]

I think GP2 have become what F2 was, and what F3000 became after that. The series drivers end up in of they are not readily apparent as F1 material by F3 / WSR3.5. Regardless of what max did in karting, taking him straight from F3 to a F1 seat after a season he did not win a championship in still seem over the top for me, having said that then Red Bull did hold the hands of Vettel from he was 12, and McLaren Hamilton from he was 12 - 14.

 

Ranking drivers must be something different than ranking series though.

 

[Fastcake]

1) F3

...

12) WSR3.5

13) GP2

14) GP3

 

I detest the spec series which have made racing less interesting over the past decade and a half, any series with mandated cars and engines are a lessor series than one which allow multiple manufacturers of cars and engines to be entered.

 

The ladder of formula racing used to be:

 

FFord

F2000

F3

F2 - Often bypassed

F1

 

We should get back to something like that, I know it will not happen and disagree with all the arguments for why it is a bad idea.

 

 

Berger and the FIA have been trying to reconstruct the old ladder over the past few years. They've developed Formula 4 as a ready-made cheap series that any country can import, which has come in handy now FRenault and FFord are dying off. I also read somewhere about a new Formula 2 in the works (a proper one, not Palmer's turn and and drive club series) but until GP2 starts to collapse from the stupidly high costs, or Renault finally decide to shut down WSR, that's not really going to be viable. No idea about F3, but there needs to be something between those two levels.

 

 

On the subject of feeder series, I do wonder what the big manufacturers gained over the years by setting them up. There can't be much promotional value in supporting a small national feeder formula, though I suppose the chassis and engine costs could be recouped by selling them to the participants. Whatever the value, it can't exist anymore now that the old BMW, Ford and Renault series are either dead or slowly dying.