5 replies to this topic

[Andrew Hope]

Every now and then I come across someone on here referring to a driver as 'young' when they're nearly 30 or 'experienced' when they're barely 20, or just come across a driver that is way older or younger than I thought they were. I think it makes an interesting thing to discuss, and it's a good thing to have a mental picture of in your brain. I can't be the only one that is every so often surprised to realize two drivers are the same age when you think one has to be a good few years older than another.

So here's a fun list. Any driver to compete in at least one race in 2009, 2010 or 2011, as well as reserve drivers and test drivers (for consistency, anyone listed on the Wikipeda pages for those seasons). As a bonus, drivers often rumored to be entering F1 are included, as well as those from the Young Drivers test this year.

Age (as of 29 November 2011) Driver

Raced in 2011/Contracted for 2012

42 Schumacher
40 de la Rosa
40 Badoer
40 Coulthard
-
39 Barrichello
38 Fisichella
37 Trulli
37 Gene
37 Wurz
35 Webber
34 Heidfeld
34 Karthikeyan
32 Raikkonen
32 Davidson
32 Bourdais
31 Button
30 Paffett
30 Alonso
30 Massa
30 Kovalainen
30 Liuzzi
-
29 Glock
29 Yamamoto
29 Fauzy
28 Senna
28 Rossiter
28 Sutil
28 Klien
28 Tung
28 Lopez
27 Petrov
27 Teixera
27 di Grassi
27 Chandhok
26 Rosberg
26 Maldonado
26 Nakajima
26 Piquet, jr.
26 Kubica
26 Hamilton
26 Soucek
25 di Resta
25 d'Ambrosio
25 Grosjean
25 Kobayashi
25 Gonzalez
24 Vettel
24 Valsecchi
24 Hulkenberg
24 Charouz
24 Turvey
24 Bird
23 Clos
23 Buemi
22 Ricciardo
22 Bianchi
22 Hartley
22 Bottas
22 Razia
22 Berthon
22 Leimer
22 Wickens
22 Coletti
22 Cecotto, jr.
21 Perez
21 Bortolotti
21 Pic
21 Vergne
21 Alguersuari
20 Gutierrez
20 Quaife-Hobbes
20 Chilton
20 Rossi
-
18 Ceccon
18 Korjus

An incomplete list (I can't put everyone rumored to be getting a seat) but it shows if nothing else what a difficult game of musical chairs this all is. Obviously, a few of those names are never going to race in F1 again but then again we thought we'd seen the last of Narain Karthikeyan so best not to leave anyone off.

Thoughts? Any surprises? I always forget Klien is so young, and it's startling how far down near the bottom Buemi and Alguersuari still are.

Edited by andrew., 29 November 2011 - 23:25.

[garoidb]

30 Paffett
30 Alonso
30 Massa
30 Kovalainen
30 Liuzzi

It surprises me that Liuzzi and Kovy are the same age as Alonso.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Alonso was really young when he came in.


To get a good perspective someone should graph age against years in the series. You have tons and tons of experience by the time you get 30, and if you don't you won't make it to 30.

[Andrew Hope]

Massa is a few months older than Alonso as well, which just feels weird given how they're generally talked about on places like this.

Edited by andrew., 29 November 2011 - 22:56.

[george1981]

Bourdais being only 32 jumped out at me. Given all his non-F1 accomplishments he seemed a lot older.

[Jejking]

I'd highlight the current drivers who are on the grid, make 'm bold, easier to look at. Thanks.