Through similar circumstances, three of the best of Formula 1 ‘s new generation of drivers have showcased signs of being dependable superstars to carry the sport forward in safe hands. Here’s how.
Formula 1 ‘s need for positive turbulence
Every organisation, structure and ecosystem needs some degree of positive turbulence. New faces must arrive, challenge the present day order, dethrone them and carry things forward; it is just the way of the world. If done right in the world of sport, it can establish new superstars who can grow the sport to new heights and be its ambassadors for years to come. However, for this to be done ‘right’, it all comes down to a delicate matter of timing.
You see, should the older gen depart from the top being unchallenged, the new generation will indeed rule the mountain, but only because they inherited the top position. Young talents need time to mature and develop. Early inheritance, be it financial or in terms of responsibility to lead a team or a sport can be a significant challenge for the young generation – they may mature multiple folds in the process, but very few can survive the pressure and not squander the major opportunity in their hands.
Image credits: Sky Sports
The arrival of a new generation presents a big opportunity for any sport.
A good example would be Manchester United’s center backs post the Sir Alex Ferguson era; the established pair of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand departed at almost the same time, along with their strong defensive counterparts, all of whose places in the team weren’t challenged by ready-enough younger stars waiting in the wings. Eventually, when given the responsibility to lead the defense, the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling simply could not sustain it.
How are sustainable new faces of the sport created?
However, if the older gen is consistently challenged by the younger generation, the beautiful opportunity to establish new sustainable stars arises from within.
The clash of the generations is a critical moment for any sporting league; it resembles the sun setting on one era and dawn breaking on another, and should they happen concurrently, like with Michael Schumacher seamlessly taking the reigns as F1’s new megastar after Ayrton Senna, the new big fish may just help grow the pond.
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Luckily for Formula 1, this delicate matter of timing has always played on its side. When Schumacher was ready to depart, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen took the reigns from him before he stepped aside. Their generation coincided with the rise of Sebastian Vettel and crucially, Lewis Hamilton, both of whom have carried the Formula 1 baton well, but are now having to fight to keep it.
The critical clash of the generations
What makes today’s clash of the generations so special for Formula 1 is two key elements – first is the longevity of Lewis Hamilton, the undisputed present generation face of the sport. By this stage in his career, drivers tend to dip in form and slip away to midfield teams, but not Lewis. Staking a strong claim for being the ‘Greatest of all time’, Lewis is still winning titles and breaking records, making him a star beaming at full strength.
The fact that Lewis, strongest that he has ever been, is being made to fight hard for every win by an increasingly mature crop of young drivers in Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and soon George Russell sets up the best possible sustainability plan for Formula 1.
Despair: a key, star-making teacher
Backed up by an increasingly strong social media presence, Formula 1 has used this incredibly well to make each of Verstappen, Norris, Russell and Leclerc global superstars even before their first World Titles.
Interestingly though, much like Lewis Hamilton at China from his rookie year in 2007, each of Charles Leclerc, George Russell and now Lando Norris have turned into bigger stars thanks to moments of extreme dispair, where they lost their first win to little or no fault of their own. From Bahrain 2019, to Sakhir 2020 and now, Sochi 2021, each of the three young stalwarts of the sport have faced moments of frustration to see their first win robbed away.
Yet, these are the moments that will let them add the feather of mental resilience to their cap. Since these races, both Charles Leclerc and George Russell have gained the best possible reputation of being drivers that can extract unbelievable results from incapable cars. This has earnt them long-term shots at top teams like Ferrari and Mercedes, with Lando Norris gaining the trust of McLaren and being the star to lead them into a new era.
Why Formula 1 may just be in the strongest position it has ever been in
2021 may just be the year when we do see the first of the new generation in Max Verstappen truly dethrone Lewis Hamilton. The fact that Lewis Hamilton shows no signs of slowing down though just stretches out this proverbial clash of the generations, and presents more time for the young gen to snatch the baton from Lewis Hamilton and develop their credibility by beating one of the best ever in his prime.
Any other sporting league would pounce on the prospect of developing four new global superstars, each capable of being the face of the sport all at once and within a span of the last 2 years, Formula 1 has steadily done just that.
Image credits: XPB Images
With Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Lando Norris, Formula 1 now finds itself staring into a nest with four golden eggs, with potentially even a few more on the way.
Read our Italian GP Data Analysis here: https://www.pitstopodium.com/formula-1/the-italian-gp-data-analysis/
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