From what I remember his dads home where he lived was worth a million pounds by the time he was 16. So thats not a 'liquid' asset but the toilet was not outside LOL
Yep, comparisons between Stevenage and south central LA are pretty much non-existent. Stevenage is hardly Mayfair, but it's as far from a ghetto as it is from the kings road Chelsea. Certainly not a poor area, more middle of the road, middle class, and his dad was (as I remember) and IT specialist, so not exactly the lowest rung on the wages ladder either
This has not been my personal experience in the US at least. I would say 50% are loaded. The other 50%'s parents are usually struggling to help them continue and spending all of their disposable income (and loans) to make it happen. A lot of the "poorer" parents are small business owners. The thing is that if the "poorer" kids don't really distinguish themselves by Indy Lights, their career is pretty much over. The "richer" kids have enough money to continue all the way to Indycar even if their talent is not actually better. F1 is a whole different beast of course, but this trend is somewhat similar.
All true, but these days have pretty much gone. Nowadays a single go-kart racing weekend at European or World level costs more than 10,000 euro and a F3 season 600,000 for a back-of-the-grid team. Today a racing driver not from a rich family must be very talented AND EXTREMELY lucky to make into F1. For each "Ocon and Bottas" that reaches F1 there are hundreds of very talented kids that had to stop their career or become professional drivers on other categories. I can name many drivers that would simply kill Stroll in any car. Also true, but motorsport in the USA is much cheaper too.
Up to a point. There are series where it's relatively cheap to start. Also not every kid has a billionaire or even a millionaire father.
In Europe, you have to grab the sponsors' attention early on, or you won't progress in single-seater. You can barely do a national Formula Ford series with your own money, but forget about F4, F3 or GP3 with a family funded budget. Small sponsors are possible at national level, but to go to European level, you need a large sponsor behind. Most ravers spend their time chasing sponsors. In the end, it's the people who are the best at convincing sponsors (with help from managers, agents, etc...) that get the budgets and progress up to F1, not always the best or fastest drivers.
I wrote this: Today a racing driver not from a rich family must be very talented AND EXTREMELY lucky to make into F1. Ocon is indeed very talented and extremely lucky.
Is that really the case though in the lower formula these days? I'm asking; not telling. FF is cheaper in the UK than US, or maybe the same depending on team and testing. Say 50-100k depending on what you run, how much you test, etc. F4 is about the same in the US as UK and Italy (200-300k). It might be more expensive elsewhere in Europe, or with the absolute top teams. Regular F2000 pro series is about 200k USF2000 (official Indycar undercard) in the US is about 400k. Pro Mazda, with the new car released will be 500-600k a year. It's probably cheaper this year with smaller fields and the old tubular chassis. F3 is coming in the US supposedly. Not sure what it will cost yet. Indy Lights is 1m. I don't know what F2 costs. Obviously F1 is something like 4-6x the cost of Indycar; assuming you could buy your way in... Feel free to educate me though; would love to know/have accurate data.
I hear yah. I just don't see how the US is much different. Check my numbers and tell me where it differs. For instance, I know a fellow driver looked at the Italian F4 vs. US and the prices were similar. He ultimately stayed in the US to be with his family; but the actual running costs were comparable. When I say "small business owners" also - they are successful small business owners. They are making quite a bit on regional businesses and dumping *all* of it into their kid. They have to live modestly to put their kids in racing. To clarify my statement.
I dislike stroll - because he's a hazard. Guys like him in car's that can't compete are not as much of a problem, but his car is faster than a lot of the grid. I consider the rich drivers that pay to run - to be essential to motorsport. Motorsport would not of existed without them. (And to some extent, still would not.) He is unfortunately, in a car that is fast enough to put him in the middle of the pack. Look at the way he drives from an onboard, compare it to Massa. Stroll is absolutely not comfortable out there. Stroll is thrashing widely at the car.
I agree with his lack of composure behind the wheel. Massa is at ease with the car, Stroll ATM appears to be frantic, trying to overdrive it.
The irony is that he got taken out twice by more experienced guys and he has not ended anyone else's race yet ; )
You cannot compare Stroll with Massa; it's as simple as that. Massa has more than a decade of experience, Stroll 3 races. The problem is that Stroll landed too quickly in F1, and in one of the reputed teams as well. So the spotlight is on him. He may improve, or he may not; in which case, he will be another F1 casualty.
My impressions are that he is not naturally gifted nor does he possess the hunger to win. He is in a F1 car purely to fulfill the expectations of his father.
Yes, it's not fair to compare, Massa is a top driver and one of the most experienced ones, but we can see how others guys like Ocon, max, o sainz have quickly adapt....i think Stroll has less talent and is strugling...
I've never met him. I haven't even seen him interviewed (which still wouldn't totally convince me). 'Can't say one way or the other. Nothing like knowing someone before defining their intentions....
I don't even think that comparison is valid either to be honest. Max is a rare talent coming from F3. Ocon did FR, F3, R3.5, GP3, and, DTM. Sainz did F3, R3.5 and GP3. Stroll did Toyota racing series in NZ, F4 and F3(2x). So what I'm saying is that even if Stroll has equal talent, he doesn't have the experience of Sainz and Ocon; excluding Max who is a bit of a freak.
Not sure if it's the will of his father, I think he wants to race, too...but yes agree he just doesn't have the talent.
Like single said, it may not be the talent he's short on...rather, the time........ (And only time will tell. bBeing rushed could already have hurt him permanently tho'....)
