F1 boss reveals Ferrari star snub in BIZARRE claim.......

F1 boss reveals Ferrari star snub in BIZARRE claim…….read more

In a revealing statement, Alpine F1 boss Flavio Briatore has provided an explanation for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s exclusion from top teams in Formula 1, offering a peculiar perspective on the nature of current F1 driver selections. Briatore’s comments shed light on the changing dynamics of the sport and the increasing preference for younger drivers.

Ferrari’s driver lineup will experience a major shakeup in 2025, as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is set to join the Italian team. This move will see Carlos Sainz, who has enjoyed notable success with Ferrari, including four victories and a standout win in Australia earlier this year, depart the team. However, despite his impressive F1 record, Sainz did not manage to secure a seat with any of the leading teams for the upcoming seasons. Instead, he will move to Williams, a team that is working to regain its competitive edge. Sainz’s decision to join Williams stems from his hope that the team will develop a race-winning car in the near future.

This shift in Ferrari’s driver lineup highlights a broader trend in Formula 1, where youth is being prioritized over experience when it comes to securing positions at top teams. Alongside Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari, other teams are also opting for younger drivers. Kimi Antonelli, for example, is expected to join Mercedes, while Liam Lawson is widely tipped for a seat at Red Bull, potentially replacing Sergio Perez.

Briatore, a former F1 team principal and influential figure in the sport, weighed in on the current trends in driver recruitment, commenting on why Carlos Sainz might have missed out on securing a spot with one of the “top four” teams. According to Briatore, the current F1 landscape favors younger drivers who are perceived to have a greater drive and hunger for success. He pointed out that Sainz, while a skilled and accomplished driver, was not considered a long-term solution for these top teams. Briatore explained that teams like Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari prefer to focus on younger, more ambitious drivers, such as Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson, who are seen as having more potential and are eager to prove themselves in the sport.

Briatore also made a controversial claim about older drivers, suggesting that those with families and financial security are less driven to succeed compared to younger, less-established drivers. “Young drivers are hungrier than someone who has a wife and two children and 30 or 40 million in the bank,” Briatore remarked, indicating that drivers with financial stability and personal commitments may not possess the same level of relentless ambition as their younger counterparts. This argument draws on a belief that age and personal life can impact a driver’s focus and drive, a view that has been discussed in F1 for some time. Briatore even referenced the words of Enzo Ferrari, who reportedly said that drivers tend to slow down once they have families.

Briatore’s remarks further emphasized that when top teams are looking for drivers, they want those who are fully committed to their long-term future with the team. He acknowledged that Sainz is an excellent driver, but also stated that if a driver is only willing to commit for a limited period, as Sainz was, then it doesn’t make sense for teams to invest heavily in them. Briatore revealed that although Alpine had considered signing Sainz, they ultimately passed because they could only see a short-term future with the driver.

Ultimately, Briatore’s comments reflect the evolving nature of Formula 1, where the desire for fresh talent and long-term commitment is shaping the recruitment strategies of the sport’s top teams. As younger drivers continue to make their mark, established stars like Carlos Sainz may find it more challenging to secure a place at the highest levels of the sport.