Concerns raised over sponsor-backed F1 drivers 03/12/2010 |
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Former Virgin Racing reserve driver Andy Soucek has criticised the current Formula 1 set-up as favouring sponsor money over driver talent.
With more and more new teams putting a greater emphasis on drivers carrying heavy financial investment, Soucek admitted it was now a “problem” for new drivers without such backing to break into the top level of motorsport, reports ESPN F1.
Soucek won the F2 championship in 2009 but during the course of the 2010 season gave up his role as a test driver with Virgin. Several drivers, including Pastor Maldonado and Sakon Yamamoto, are understood to bring significant financial backing, and Renault's Vitaly Petrov even enjoys the support of Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.
"As a driver, you've always needed sponsors and support, but now I see a problem," Soucek said.
"In the current situation, with reduced marketing and sponsorship in the world, there are other drivers that are backed politically or even by their countries. It means the prices [for F1 seats] have gone above what is normal, and the teams desperately need the money.
"You win in F3, F2, you do a test with Williams, you drive in GP2, Superleague, but compared to others who are already in F1, you see they have no such achievements. In the end, it's not important only to be good."
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