Verstappen: Newey Concerned About the Future of Young Drivers, Villeneuve Criticizes

Red Bull’s technical director, Adrian Newey, seems concerned about young drivers entering motorsport. According to the Englishman, it’s the parents who push their children to neglect their studies. The British engineer is perplexed by Max Verstappen signing with Toro Rosso at the age of 16, which raises questions about education.

A large number of karting and junior formula drivers do not go to school. Parents explain that they have private tutors, but I think that in many cases, not all I’m sure, but in many cases it’s a sham, he thinks.

Newey was a poor student as at the age of 16 he left private school due to misconduct, but he studied aeronautics at university. He stated that the exam results of many young racers could make

« a rather depressing story. Some young drivers could have a bright potential like Sebastian Vettel who made his F1 debut at 19 » he explains in Thisis F1.

« I think that many of these children do not have the level (of education), they spent all this time out of school, they did not have a proper education and what happens to them afterwards is clearly another question » declared Newey.

« It’s something that the world of motor racing must urgently examine, because personally, I think we would be irresponsible to allow this » he thinks when discussing the appointment of Max Verstappen in F1.

During the 2015 season, Max Verstappen will be 17 years old. He still has a year to finish school, but Jos’s son clearly has talent. Max stated on Friday that his grades had been good so far and he hoped to complete his studies while being a Formula 1 driver.

Some drivers have been in the same situation as Max Verstappen. For example, Nico Rosberg turned down a place at university to study aerospace engineering at Imperial College London in order to race in GP2.

For the former driver Niki Lauda, this is the generation of young people who grew up with computers: « Kvyat has already shown the way. A generational change is taking place. It’s also good for Formula 1 because young people will start watching [races]. »

Jacques Villeneuve took the opportunity this Friday to criticize the recruitment of Max Verstappen by Toro Rosso and believes that the super license system is nonsense. The 1997 world champion thinks that the arrival of the Dutchman is bad news for F1.

« Obtaining a super license should be meaningful, and not just about doing 300 kilometers correctly. There’s something flawed there. Basically, it’s like getting all the gifts without deserving anything » he said.

What’s the next step? A team signing a driver at 15 years old to improve their image? All of this makes no sense. Caesar and Napoleon were there from the start, but it takes time to become an emperor. You build a career, it doesn’t mean you’re talented, it doesn’t mean you’re faster, but you learn to build and you become a man too, declares the commentator on Canal+.

« It’s still a boy, so it’s very risky. You don’t take a 16-year-old boy who hasn’t even been to university to work as a doctor in the best hospital, even if he is very intelligent. You have to pay your dues, you have to earn it, because that’s the only way you’re going to become a man » explains the Quebecer.

« It’s the worst thing Formula One is known for because there are two effects: either he succeeds immediately and F1 will be meaningless, or his career will be destroyed. What is he doing in F1? He is not doing anyone any favors » concludes Villeneuve in Grand Prix 247.