Rivals question youngest F1 driver
Alguersuari will break age record Sunday
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Jaime Alguersuari is about to become the youngest driver to race in Formula One and is drawing criticism from fellow drivers about his inexperience even before the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Spaniard spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since taking over for 30-year-old Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais. Alguersuari said his objective this season is to simply figure out what being an F1 driver is all about.
“I know I’m not really experienced, I know I don’t have mileage with the car, but that’s what we’re here for,” said Alguersuari, who joins from Renault’s World Series. “It’s a new car for me, a new championship for me, but I have to learn.”
Alguersuari will set the age record Sunday at 19 years, 126 days, breaking New Zealand driver Mike Thackwell’s mark by 57 days.
Among the drivers critical of the move was Mark Webber, who drives for sister team Red Bull.
“I’ve never been a big fan of Formula One being a learning school, but it seems that it is these days,” Webber said. “When you arrive in Formula One you should be ready. It’s not a place to learn.”
Alguersuari will become the second Spanish driver on the grid after two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who also made his debut at 19.
“When you have the opportunity to drive a Formula One car, how can you say no?” Alonso said. “It’s a big opportunity, the opportunity of your life, and you need to take it.”
Felipe Massa isn’t so sure.
“For me he’s too young,” said the Ferrari driver, who started at age 20. “For me it’s wrong. It’s not good for him. I’m surprised a team would put a guy like this in the car.”
Alguersuari, whose only test drives have been in a simulator, is following in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica, two young and lauded drivers who also made the jump directly to F1 from the World Series.
“I’m happy to be here, but in the end it’s just another car in my racing career and my life,” Alguersuari said. “I’m relaxed, I know what I can do and know what people can expect from me.”