Five world champions in the past 12 years. That says much about how the elite dominate in Formula 1 and how hard it is to break through to the topper-most of the popper-most. Of that quintet of champions, two – Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg – are already retired and the other three will be aware, to varying degrees, just how loudly the clock is ticking. Kimi Räikkönen, champion in 2007, is the oldest, having just turned 40; Lewis Hamilton, champion for the first time in 2008, is 34; Sebastian Vettel, who won four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013, is 32 but is increasingly looking older after a fraught couple of years at Ferrari. What is certain is that all are closer to the end than the beginning.
That’s true even of Hamilton, despite still appearing at the height of his powers. But he will recognise that a changing of the generations – as inevitable as taxes – is upon F1. How can he not, after a 2019 season in which a clutch of fresh talent has risen to challenge the status quo, with all the glorious precociousness and cocksure self-belief of youth?
F1’s new power generation are not just the future. They’re right here, right now, and ready to grab at opportunities, whenever and wherever they come.
Charles Leclerc, age 22, team Ferrari
Monaco’s new favourite son stepped up to Ferrari this year and wasted little time in proving that the usually conservative team had made the right call in signing him. The near-miss in Bahrain, a race he would have won convincingly without an engine problem, also foreshadowed the growing problem Ferrari team-mate Vettel now has on his hands. Leclerc is increasingly proving tough to live with and at this rate could even shorten the four-time world champion’s career.
Like Max Verstappen, there are creases in Leclerc’s driving to be ironed out – but unlike Verstappen, he’s only in season two. The mistakes, especially in one who is so openly and refreshingly self-critical, will surely dwindle as experience grows.
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So far, F1 has proven to be...
the sport in which 26 drivers race around a track trying to come out on top, and in the end the German team wins... to use Gary Lineker's image.
In the end the German team
Nothing really changes.......
This is the same process as ever, of course there new blood coming through, there has to be, otherwise F1 would stagnate and eventually cease to be a top sport, the top drivers of this last decade are nearing there sell by date, the likes of Hamilton, Vettel, and Kimi have given there best, ok, Hamilton might have another title in the next two years, but, these guys have to move over and let the next generation take there places, that's how it works, should work.
I do as do several of my work
There are a lot of boring taxes admittedly, but there are also some gems. And it is great to see the new talented drivers out there, infact watching them perform has rekindled my interest in the sport. The mid field battles are where the interest lies.