No American drivers in F1
- Thread starter Schumy
- 30 comments
- 1,153 views
That's an interesting question.
An associated question might also be 'why are there so many foreign drivers in CART and IRL?'.
The last US driver in F1 was of course Michael Andretti in '93, and he went so well he didn't even see out the season.
I think the big issue is that there aren't the necessary feeder formula to provide drivers with the skill to go and compete in Europe in F3 and F3000. Our European members might know better than I but there are very few US drivers in these traditional routes to F1 in Europe, and it would appear the US domestic series such as CART and IRL (well, IRL's no help because it's ovals only) aren't much help for drivers coming over (unless you're Montoya or Villeneuve).
You might see guys starting to take an interest now the US GP appears to be successful (especially if they manage to get a second race going), but it might be a while.
Really, apart from Ford with Jaguar, and some sponsor involvement, the US really doesn't play a big role in Formula 1. All the teams are European, the bulk of engine manufacturers are European or Japanese, and you've got French and Japanese tyre manufactures.
An associated question might also be 'why are there so many foreign drivers in CART and IRL?'.
The last US driver in F1 was of course Michael Andretti in '93, and he went so well he didn't even see out the season.
I think the big issue is that there aren't the necessary feeder formula to provide drivers with the skill to go and compete in Europe in F3 and F3000. Our European members might know better than I but there are very few US drivers in these traditional routes to F1 in Europe, and it would appear the US domestic series such as CART and IRL (well, IRL's no help because it's ovals only) aren't much help for drivers coming over (unless you're Montoya or Villeneuve).
You might see guys starting to take an interest now the US GP appears to be successful (especially if they manage to get a second race going), but it might be a while.
Really, apart from Ford with Jaguar, and some sponsor involvement, the US really doesn't play a big role in Formula 1. All the teams are European, the bulk of engine manufacturers are European or Japanese, and you've got French and Japanese tyre manufactures.
That's very true - but I don't think that's such a big issue. I think that actually helps CART's racing standards as the cars are basically bought off the shelf so they're very close in performance. Accordingly, if you can't make a pass in CART you're about stuffed, and we've seen that with Villeneuve and Montoya.
The bigger issue is that since CART can be seen as an F1 feeder formula, the fact that there aren't many US drivers is a big problem. Who was the last US champion? Jimmy Vasser?
You guys need an F3 or F3000 for local drivers, or something - Indy Lights cars are too underpowered, and don't lead anywhere. There's zero interest in Europe in that formula.
- 563
it is a shame but i have to say it, american drivers are only good for going in ovals, you know why, it is the cheapest circuit in maintanance.the money that they save from maintanance they put on advertisement, i'm tellying you nascar and irl and cart are like milking cows especially nascar, and for what for nothing. nobody watches nascar except americans and nobody in the world cares for it, and they are doing the same regarding everything, eventhough the biggest consumer market in the world is the u.s.a..
but if they advertise for formula ,w.r.c. or even soccer, the white american people won't be making money then, because these international sports are not dominated by white americans.
it is a shame that such an open market is still controlled by prejudice people.
i am an american, and i am caucasian, and i am proud for being one.
but we are still slaves for the media over here, what ever they say is right.
except for me, i never listen to what is said, on the other hand i look around and i found out the only motorsport that can interest me is formula1 and w.r.c..
i might be wrong, and the 260 million americans wright, but tell me are 20 billion people also wrong!!!!
Originally posted by Deathhawk
There is however a Canadian
True, but Jacques had a very European upbringing, plus the benefit of a respected F1 surname.
The special talents will always find a way to shine through - look at Montoya - I mean, a Colombian? Not exactly a big source of Forbes subscriptions, is it? (good cash crop, though)
- 19,706
- Alabamamania
It's not a two-way street: racing fans may like Jags, but probably can't afford them; Somehow, I don't think the average "Jaguar buyer" cares much for motorsports. Most people don't make the Ford--Jauguar association, so the idea doesn't stick in people's minds. An F1 car is an image, but it's so far removed from a road car.
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Few Americans are willing to take the grand tour of Europe for 3-5 years in lesser formulas in order to have a prayer in F1. How many American drivers presently drive in some sort of Formula Ford, F3, F3000 or series? Not many, if any.
Michael Andretti was a unique case, but he had almost no prior experience driving on circuits which others had done so before. Because he refused to live permanently anywhere other than the US, he usually didn't want to test the McLaren on off-weeks. Hakkinen had no problem working his way back to a full-time ride...
Most Americans know who Mario Andretti is. He is the quinessential "racing driver" to Joe Six-pack. The problem is very few might know he won a world championship title.
- 19,706
- Alabamamania
Elton Julian was the last American to attemt to get an F1 seat. He tested for Larrousse in 1994-95, just before the operation closed their doors for good. It turns out that his father would promise to pay for a test, and then "forget the check" and ask for the test drive anyway.
Remind me never to go dinner with them.
You'd fingure there would be some incentive for sponsors in the US to help a talented driver or two, but big companies aren't taking the bait.
Remind me never to go dinner with them.
You'd fingure there would be some incentive for sponsors in the US to help a talented driver or two, but big companies aren't taking the bait.
- 10,081
- WFG9
Do any of you have any faith that Americans can compete in F1, that we have that talent within, or is our exposure forever doomed to lock us into having only so much potential released?
- 3,315
The reason that american drivers are not in F1 is because they cant handle the heat, they need time to come to life. I think in america in any racing series everyone have a chance to win in F1 only the top 2 or 3 teams have a chance to win, and it really isnt fair, we like to play on level playing fields. But as an american I love F1 and F1 is the best. 
- 80
I agree with some of the previous posts. The feeder series in the US do not provide the level of competition and development for the ultra-competitive arena of F1. Also, F1 is a different animal than any other form of racing in the US. The team is not necessarily there to do the best job for the driver. Michael Andretti made a big mistake going to McLaren when he did. They were on the down and had Senna there already. Andretti needed time to come to grips with the cars and Senna was a huge comparison issue to deal with. Also the McLarens were not finishing races very often. A driver in F1 is required to be an demand the team to do their job for him and not his teammate. In the US the team is required to put their best effort behind the driver in a support role. It is not the case in F1 if the driver is not prepared to demand the team perform. Even a guy as talented as Zanardi got screwed over by Williams because he did not demand they do as good a job on his car as they were doing on Ralf Schumacher's. Pat Head admitted this after Zanardi was released.
If you are looking for future American stars with a chance to enter F1 look at these young drivers... Vincent Apple promising competitor in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Renault, Paul Edwards third in the 1999 EFDA Formula 2000 Championship. Andy Lally, Paul Edwards and Jeff Simmons are also cometing in the the Formula Palmer Audi championship after all three got full rides from racing well in the US F2000 championship and Barber Dodge Pro Series. Thank Valvoline, CART, Tasman Motorsports, PacWest Racing, Mercedes-Benz USA, Road Racing Drivers Club, Skip Barber Racing School and the program's newest supporter, Mitel Semiconductor for footing the bill for these young lions to race and learn from the European masters.
If you are looking for future American stars with a chance to enter F1 look at these young drivers... Vincent Apple promising competitor in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Renault, Paul Edwards third in the 1999 EFDA Formula 2000 Championship. Andy Lally, Paul Edwards and Jeff Simmons are also cometing in the the Formula Palmer Audi championship after all three got full rides from racing well in the US F2000 championship and Barber Dodge Pro Series. Thank Valvoline, CART, Tasman Motorsports, PacWest Racing, Mercedes-Benz USA, Road Racing Drivers Club, Skip Barber Racing School and the program's newest supporter, Mitel Semiconductor for footing the bill for these young lions to race and learn from the European masters.
- 80
Here is a racing bio for Paul Edwards. I could nto find any good info on Lally or Simmons.
Go-Kart Experience
108 Starts, 45 Wins, 29 2nds
1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
California State KART Champion:
1991, 1993
Western USA KART Champion:
1995
Winner of Elf-Winfield Competition at Circuit Paul Ricard, France.(Only US driver ever to do so)
1996
Won Full Scholarship to 1996 Elf Formula Renault Campus Series.
1996
Top Novice Driver AwardTrack Record Set as first Swift Factory Works Driver to qualify on Pole during first year of competition in British Formula Ford Zetec Championship.
1996
3 Pole Positions and 2 First Place finishes achieved outside the series.
1997
First American in two decades to win a round in the British Formula Ford Championship.
1997
TEAM USA Scholarshiprepresented the United States at the Formula Ford World Finals. Sat on Pole and won both the quarter-finals, semi-finals and retained the Track Record.
1998
Champion of the European Formula Opel Winter Series and First American to ever win a round in the European Formula Drivers Association.
1999
Champion of the British Formula Europa Cup and Third Place in the EFDA Euroseries.
1999
Champion of the Formula Palmer Audi WinterSeries after being awarded Team USA Scholarship in consecutive years.
2000
Formula Palmer Audi Series.
2000
Testing and preparation to compete in 2001 season of the British Formula 3 Championship.
DRIVER GOALS:
2001
Compete to win with Alan Docking Racing in the BRITISH FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. Conduct Drivers Test with Formula 1 Teams.
2002
Win BRITISH FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. Secure a Test Team Driver position with a top FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Team.
2003
Secure a Team Driver position with a top FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Team.
Obviously this has not bene updated since prior to the 2001 season.
Go-Kart Experience
108 Starts, 45 Wins, 29 2nds
1990, 1991, 1992, 1994
California State KART Champion:
1991, 1993
Western USA KART Champion:
1995
Winner of Elf-Winfield Competition at Circuit Paul Ricard, France.(Only US driver ever to do so)
1996
Won Full Scholarship to 1996 Elf Formula Renault Campus Series.
1996
Top Novice Driver AwardTrack Record Set as first Swift Factory Works Driver to qualify on Pole during first year of competition in British Formula Ford Zetec Championship.
1996
3 Pole Positions and 2 First Place finishes achieved outside the series.
1997
First American in two decades to win a round in the British Formula Ford Championship.
1997
TEAM USA Scholarshiprepresented the United States at the Formula Ford World Finals. Sat on Pole and won both the quarter-finals, semi-finals and retained the Track Record.
1998
Champion of the European Formula Opel Winter Series and First American to ever win a round in the European Formula Drivers Association.
1999
Champion of the British Formula Europa Cup and Third Place in the EFDA Euroseries.
1999
Champion of the Formula Palmer Audi WinterSeries after being awarded Team USA Scholarship in consecutive years.
2000
Formula Palmer Audi Series.
2000
Testing and preparation to compete in 2001 season of the British Formula 3 Championship.
DRIVER GOALS:
2001
Compete to win with Alan Docking Racing in the BRITISH FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. Conduct Drivers Test with Formula 1 Teams.
2002
Win BRITISH FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES. Secure a Test Team Driver position with a top FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Team.
2003
Secure a Team Driver position with a top FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Team.
Obviously this has not bene updated since prior to the 2001 season.
- 194
Goal for 2001 was race to win, I'm going to go track down his results.
Well, he wasn't top 5 in the championship and he didn't win a race.
Impressively he was 4th in his first race though.
I can't be arsed to track down the rest of them but if anyone is suffiently interested the archive is at http://www.powertour.co.uk
Well, he wasn't top 5 in the championship and he didn't win a race.
Impressively he was 4th in his first race though.
I can't be arsed to track down the rest of them but if anyone is suffiently interested the archive is at http://www.powertour.co.uk
- 56
the simple reason that there aren't any US drivers in as many top international series--not just F1, but say, DTM, BTCC, FIA SCC (other then American teams), etc. etc.--is that there aren't feeder series into feeder series as there are in Europe.
One of the main problems could be something like this: american youth play baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. There are very few 10 year olds who drive shifter karts on the weekends. However, there are very competitive series in Britain for just that. Feeder series (Karts) into the feeder series (F3000) which send drivers into the top leagues (F1)...
One of the main problems could be something like this: american youth play baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. There are very few 10 year olds who drive shifter karts on the weekends. However, there are very competitive series in Britain for just that. Feeder series (Karts) into the feeder series (F3000) which send drivers into the top leagues (F1)...
- 10,081
- WFG9
to many of us as kids, the cost of baseball is cheaper than kart.
dunno how much kart costs or baseball, but i'm sure a ball, bat & glove is cheaper pretraining for little league than renting a kart and a track as pretraining for a jr. championship.
play a lot with your folks in a park, not so much time can be dedicated to kart.
possibly giving kart courses in public schools could help, maybe.
dunno how much kart costs or baseball, but i'm sure a ball, bat & glove is cheaper pretraining for little league than renting a kart and a track as pretraining for a jr. championship.
play a lot with your folks in a park, not so much time can be dedicated to kart.
possibly giving kart courses in public schools could help, maybe.
- 19,706
- Alabamamania
My pleas for turning the 1/4-mile running track into a sort of kart track infuriated the physical education coach! It had two grandstands, lots of run-off, lights at night....perfect, right? All they need is some kind of athletic body to make sure all the karts are one-make, one-spec for varsity.
Oh well, the memories of 1988.
Oh well, the memories of 1988.
