Helmut Marko has long been responsible for channeling new talent into the F1 ranks and he didn’t hold back on his latest role in a Speedweek column accusing certain Formula 1 drivers of “closing out” new talent.In the editorial, Mark cites young Oliver Bearman as an example of what can happen when a seat becomes available, but in Mark’s opinion, there are many people who simply don’t deserve to be there. .
Helmut Marko: Some F1 drivers quitMost of Marko’s article focuses on his views on Red Bull’s success at Silverstone, while describing the preparations for the upcoming Hungarian GP.But at the end of the columns, in various sections about the performance of the weekend of Red Bull Junior, Marko hit.”Next year, Oliver Bearman will be an F1 driver who was in the right place at the right time,” he wrote for Speedweek (translated from German to English).”His race with Ferrari showed him his future in GP. If you consider his results in Formula 2, things would look much worse for him.”But it’s good that young people are coming to Formula 1. , I’m absolutely for it.”Marko then pointed to the current F1 table – and the drivers he says are blocking places and taking away opportunities from young drivers.”I can’t name any names. , but in the field there are riders who stand and are better or worse according to their mood,” added Marko.
“They block the way for young riders.Mark also made another point: He believes that the current F1 teams do not want to take risks.”Teams are afraid of young people, too,” he wrote.”Of course they make mistakes, but I’d rather someone make mistakes and have hope for the future than not get better.”While Mark may not mention any names in particular, many F1 fans can probably point fingers at a few drivers they feel are unwanted.After all, 2024 was the first time in F1’s 74-year history that the season started without driver changes. At the end of 2023, every full-time F1 driver was signed to the same teams for 2024.
The flip side of the coin is that the 2025 silly season started before the cars hit the track in 2024 – but the only rookie scheduled to debut in 2025 is Oliver Bearman. The other confirmed drivers all have previous full-season F1 experience..
