McLaren believe young talent makes this a “great era” for F1

George Russell chats with Lando Norris — Photo: © LAT Images

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McLaren believe young talent makes this a “great era” for F1

Blend of youth and experience is ideal for F1's future

Ian Parkes & Will Gray

Thursday 9 September 2021 14:20

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McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl feels the current mix of drivers in F1 is one of the best the sport has seen.

George Russell’s arrival alongside Lewis Hamilton will give reigning world champions Mercedes an enticing mix of youth and experience for 2022 with other teams undergoing a changing of the guard in recent years.

Asked ahead of Mercedes' announcement whether this is a golden era for F1, Seidl said: “I think it is simply a great era of Formula 1 at the moment when you see the mix of drivers that are on the grid and the mix of drivers each team is also having.

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“Each team [has] an experienced driver and at the same time a young driver as well, or young drivers who have shown already as well that they have everything they need in order to become top guys as well in this sport.

“I think it is great for Formula 1, great for the fans and great for us teams.”

Brown "bullish" over F1 future

McLaren's line-up boasts youth and experience in Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, whilst Ferrari runs with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon has been brought back to the sport with Williams as Red Bull sticks to Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

With F1's new regulations for next season promising to provide more exciting racing, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said: “I think it’s mega exciting. I think it is lining out so that for the future all the big teams are going to have their franchise driver, their young driver. “I’m very bullish on Formula 1’s future. I’m excited for the new car. I think the cost cap is working, that is why you hear some people moaning about it, but I think that is what makes it a sport.

“It’s easy to have an unlimited chequebook. You’ve got to be a bit smarter and more efficient when you’ve got tighter rules.

“I think the competition we’re seeing this year up and down the grid is exciting so I think led by these superstar drivers with the big teams, I think it is going to be massively exciting the next decade of Formula 1.”