How Does a Driver Get Into F1?

Casper · 6 Apr 2015, 01:14 (Ref:3524226)

It is something I have always been curious about to tell the truth. A driver who has won championships etc, got the sponsors, does he just ring up and ask for a test? Sorry, we can't do that now because the regs won't allow it

so what is the procedure, does anyone know?

AoB Special Stage · 6 Apr 2015, 01:45 (Ref:3524228)

Acquire a Superlicence:

Acquire a number of points from winning various series, which are outlined on the Formula 1 website with their point values

Be at least 18 years of age, effective 2016.

have traveled at least 305 km in a modern-spec F1 car (probably 2014 now)

To the Circuit:

Get enough people to sponsor you to get a team to get a fitting for your bum

Pass a physical

Don't forget to pay the taxes on your Superlicence and don't let it expire

Get within the 107% time

Casper · 6 Apr 2015, 01:48 (Ref:3524229)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AoB Special Stage

Acquire a Superlicence:

Acquire a number of points from winning various series, which are outlined on the Formula 1 website with their point values

Be at least 18 years of age, effective 2016.

have traveled at least 305 km in a modern-spec F1 car (probably 2014 now)

To the Circuit:

Get enough people to sponsor you to get a team to get a fitting for your bum

Pass a physical

Don't forget to pay the taxes on your Superlicence and don't let it expire

Get within the 107% time

That's the technical stuff, how do you actually approach and convince a team to talk to you?

AoB Special Stage · 6 Apr 2015, 02:05 (Ref:3524231)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

That's the technical stuff, how do you actually approach and convince a team to talk to you?

Get an agent, or get a junior formula win sheet longer than Senna's.

mikuni · 6 Apr 2015, 03:22 (Ref:3524235)

Right place
Right time
Write cheque

Bevan-L · 6 Apr 2015, 04:13 (Ref:3524240)

Money. For advice, ask Maldonado

AoB Special Stage · 6 Apr 2015, 04:43 (Ref:3524241)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevan-L

Money. For advice, ask Maldonado

Exactly

Razor · 6 Apr 2015, 10:14 (Ref:3524298)

Money, good name and promotional skills, good people behind you, knowing how much to suck up to Bernie and lastly, talent.

cds_uk · 6 Apr 2015, 10:45 (Ref:3524306)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevan-L

Money. For advice, ask Maldonado

Is that Maldonado the Grand Prix winner and GP2 Champion? Bit more to it than just money with him i think.

**garcon** · 6 Apr 2015, 11:11 (Ref:3524310)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AoB Special Stage

Acquire a Superlicence:

Acquire a number of points from winning various series, which are outlined on the Formula 1 website with their point values

Be at least 18 years of age, effective 2016.

have traveled at least 305 km in a modern-spec F1 car (probably 2014 now)

To the Circuit:

Get enough people to sponsor you to get a team to get a fitting for your bum

Pass a physical

Don't forget to pay the taxes on your Superlicence and don't let it expire

Get within the 107% time

I believe the above (or at least most of it) and a comprehensive sponsorship package of about 50 million dollars should cover it...

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 6 Apr 2015, 21:52 (Ref:3524490)

Being the son of a racer or circuit owner is a help, if the father is both its even better

mountainstar · 6 Apr 2015, 22:45 (Ref:3524498)

How does a driver get into F1?

Money and an endless supply of it.

Up till about 15 years ago a driver from an ordinary, normal background could perhaps battle his way through the junior formulas, raise a sum of money and get in the door of F1, but these days the cost of entry is so high that door is mostly shut. They are practically breeding F1 drivers these days from older F1 drivers, starting them out in karts before they can even form a proper sentence and if you are not in a driver development program with an F1 team along with plenty of money greasing the skids by the age of 15-16, you can forget it.

Hawkwood · 6 Apr 2015, 22:55 (Ref:3524501)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Being the son of a racer or circuit owner is a help, if the father is both its even better

And when that doesn't get you to F1 you'll have to win the GP2 title to become only a test driver.

AoB Special Stage · 6 Apr 2015, 23:09 (Ref:3524503)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

And when that doesn't get you to F1 you'll have to win the GP2 title to become only a test driver.

or butcher a GP2 campaign after winning a GP3 title

old man · 9 Apr 2015, 22:43 (Ref:3525558)

It seems Casper that nobody takes your question seriously.

I believe that the simple answer is connections. I assume you are taking it that said driver has championship winning ability and backing of the 7 figure variety. If that is so a good PR job to show how bright and personable the driver is should ensure that teams have actually heard the name.

Connections then have to get to decision makers in the teams and to know which teams to bother with and which to ignore. The person with the required connections can be either a Dad or a Manager who can just pick up the phone. It really can be that simple given all the right credentials otherwise.

Paradise City · 9 Apr 2015, 23:11 (Ref:3525568)

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man

It seems Casper that nobody takes your question seriously.

The OP was a brief remark and a piece of that with two smilies laughing so hard, they can't even stand. That's gonna set the tone.

Connections of course, big one's within the commercial world and the players in the motorsports world. The former is a toughie because motorsport is cash intensive and highly speculative. So you need someone in the commercial world, that has conviction.

mountainstar · 10 Apr 2015, 00:20 (Ref:3525583)

Probably if there is one lesson I learned that I wish I comprehended more when I was very young is that connections count for a lot. Money and talent make the wheels go round but connections grease the wheels. It's been amazing to me the difference in certain situations when you know someone or have introduced yourself. Sometimes you have to cold call on people too, which is no one's favorite thing to do, but all it takes sometimes is that one person to make all the difference.

In a nutshell, It Never Hurts To Ask.

Armco Bender · 10 Apr 2015, 01:20 (Ref:3525591)

You've probably got 20,000 childrens of wealthy parents currently driving anything from go-karts to GP 2 cars all over the world,all aspiring to get into 1 of the 20 F1 seats available.
Its financial,its political,its a business now not a sport,its luck were your born,its too flippin' hard even to contemplate thinking about it.

wolfhound · 10 Apr 2015, 13:44 (Ref:3525765)

It seems like the chienese prefer the direct route to F1. Jump the barrier run across the track jump the pit wall and head to Ferrari waving your grandstand ticket to get to drive a Ferrari!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/118436

Biscuits In A Red Bull · 10 Apr 2015, 16:05 (Ref:3525814)

How do you get into F1?

9 out of 10 drivers bring pure speed

10 out of 9 drivers bring pure money

Simple really

**Adam43** · 10 Apr 2015, 18:43 (Ref:3525857)

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man

It seems Casper that nobody takes your question seriously.

It got the answers I was expecting

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