The ebb and flow of Formula 1 mean that one driver will dominate for a time and, then, give way to someone new. Is that happening in F1 today? If so, are the stakes larger than simply overtaking the lead? Might the future of F1 be at stake, too?
Formula 1 racing has always had drivers and teams that have dominated the racing scene. In the 1950s, it was Juan Manuel Fangio. In the early 2000s, it was Michael Schumacher.
Michael & Lewis: F1 Excellence (photo, SkySports)
Formula 1 is also about leaders being overtaken by successors. For Schumacher, it was Fernando Alonso. He won only two championships in a row, but he did something more: break Schumacher’s streak.
Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive world championships before the switched to Ferrari and the beginning of the hybrid era. Since then, Lewis Hamilton has been king, winning four out of five titles.
Who’s next? Two drivers from lands not too familiar with Grand Prix driving are now making their mark in the sport–Dutchman Max Verstappen and Monegasque Charles Leclerc. Even Hamilton is happy there to have competition.
Verstappen, the younger son of former Grand Prix driver Jos, began his career at a young age, as did Leclerc. He began in Karting races and then slowly–as many racing greats do–moved his way up to Formula 1. Verstappen rose quickly through the Red Bull academy, found himself on the junior Toro Rosso team and then, through luck, migrated to the Red Bull Racing team, where he has already recorded a share of victories.
Charles Leclerc (photo, Shropshire Star)
Leclerc went through the Ferrari academy. After winning the Formula 2 championship, he found his way to the Alfa Romeo team, where he placed well in most races–enough to bump Kimi Raikkonen out of the Ferrari team this season. He has now won consecutive races in Belgium and at Ferrari’s home race in Italy last Sunday.
Many fans and journalists are beginning to feel that it might be time for Vettel to step aside, and let Leclerc take over the top position. But Ferrari is not letting Vettel go quickly. He’ll probably have one more chance to improve before his contract runs out at the end of next season.
It’s likely that younger drivers will emerge besides these two in the upcoming years. For now, Verstappen and Leclerc are saving the dullness of what has become a Mercedes domination. But consider this possibility. With cars changing dramatically in 2021, these two might even save the sport.
