Formula 1: My disability won't hold me back, says Billy Monger

Billy Monger

Monger: My disability won't hold me back

He wants to make it to F1 on talent.

Martin Macdonald

Tuesday 23 April 2019 11:59 Updated: 14:24

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Bill Monger is adamant that his disability will not hold him back in his motorsport career following an accident which resulted in his lower legs being amputated, but insists that he wants to make it to Formula 1 based on talent.

In 2017, Monger was involved in a crash at Donington which led to the amputation. However, he has miraculously recovered to get his career back on track and will compete in the Euroformula Open Championship.

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“This year I want to win a race,” the 19-year-old said.

“Stand on the top step knowing I have beaten everyone on a level playing field no matter what has happened to me. My disability isn’t holding me back. What will be the difference in making it to F1 or not is how good I am.”

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“I tend not to think about the accident too much because it doesn’t help me progress. I can’t forget what happened but I try to think what it has taught me – and it has taught me a lot.

“If you want to do something with your life, you should do it. I know no one is going to do it for me. It has made me a bit more of a control freak, because I want to achieve such great things.”

After his crash, Monger was remarkably behind the wheel of a car again just 10 months later, in a modified Carlin. He has since competed in Formula 3 and has aspirations of making it to F1, but he doesn’t want his diability to play a part it making it there.

“If I want to be a professional driver and be in F1, I need to deliver results,” he says. “That is what I will be judged on and that is how I want to be judged.”

During his rehabilitation, he was publicy supported by fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton, and although Monger appreciates the kindness shown by the five-time world champion, he isn’t looking for any hand outs.

“Lewis gave me support and spent time with me in the early days when I needed it,” he added.

“I respect him so much [but] I don’t want it to be the case where people see him always helping me, because I want to make it off my own back.”