Ralf Schumacher Worried About USA Talent Drain

Ralf Schumacher has expressed his concern over the apparent stagnation in the influx of new, young drivers to the Formula 1 lineup as a lack of opportunities sees top talent heading to the US to race in IndyCar.

For the first time in the contemporary era of the sport, the starting grid in 2024 will not feature any rookie drivers.

While Kimi Antonelli, a promising talent who is only 17 and already linked with Mercedes for the future, could reverse this trend in the following year, it’s clear that there has been a marked increase in the appreciation for drivers with greater age and experience recently.

Even Sebastian Vettel, 36, is now being linked with a sensational return to F1 for 2025.

“As long as he can’t use e-fuels, he won’t come back,” Schumacher told Bild newspaper.

What he does agree with, however, is that advancing years is no longer a big disadvantage in Formula 1.

“But that’s exactly why I’m a bit worried about the trend in Formula 1 in general,” said the German. “Drivers are getting older and older.

“Don’t get me wrong, Fernando Alonso still drives brilliantly. But I’m worried about the young ones. For the second time we have a Formula 2 champion who has not ended up in Formula 1, but instead seeks his fortune in the USA.

“The sport is much cheaper there and you can still earn a lot of money,” Schumacher added, referring to Indycar. “Formula 1 cannot be happy about this trend.

“Maybe we should think about setting up a junior team that everyone supports to give the young people a real chance again,” Schumacher concluded.