‘Utter nonsense’: F1 fans hit out at IndyCar driver Graham Rahal’s ‘F1 is elitist’ comments


‘Utter nonsense’: F1 fans hit out at IndyCar driver Graham Rahal’s ‘F1 is elitist’ comments

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal

The last American driver to race in Formula 1 was Alexander Rossi with Marussia, who drove his last Grand Prix in 2015. More interestingly, the last American driver to win a Grand Prix or a championship was Mario Andretti, back in 1978. Recently, his son’s team, Andretti Motorsport attempted to enter Formula 1 by buying the Sauber team, but the deal came to nothing.

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After that, they tried to enter as a separate team. But that did not particularly work out either, leading Michael Andretti to call F1 a ‘European Club’: “It was a definite European club [in 1993]. And I’m getting the feeling it’s still the European club, the way we’re being treated.” adding: “It’s a very snobbish approach they’re taking. Ultimately, we’re going to bring more value than we’re going to take away.

Recently, AlphaTauri tried to get IndyCar star Colton Herta into their team (so that Pierre Gasly could go to Alpine) but he only had 32 of the required 40 super license points. They tried to seek an exemption, but it came to nothing. This led to more criticism on Twitter, including from American motorsports commentator, Dave Moody, and IndyCar driver, Graham Rahal.

Also Read: Colton Herta’s F1 dreams fail to get a go-ahead as Red Bull withdraws support

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Graham Rahal felt that F1 doesn’t want American drivers

IndyCar driver Graham Rahal
IndyCar driver Graham Rahal

Writing on Twitter, Dave Moody said: “F1 has made it very clear for many years. They have no interest in US drivers, just US dollars.” IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, who currently competes with ‘Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’ was in agreement, and quoting this, he said:

“Damn right. F1 is an elitist sport. They don’t want us. Remember that. They want US companies’ money, they want wealthy US individuals’ money. But they don’t care about the rest. Always has been that way, always will be.”

Not everyone agreed, of course, including journalist Chris Medland, who pointed out that the drivers aren’t the issue, it is the super license rules:

Others pointed out that there isn’t a reason why US drivers should get a freebie, while everyone else has to go through the full procedure.

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One fan pointed out that Logan Sargeant, who is a member of the Williams academy, was born in and competes with an American license, is a contender for a Williams seat in the future.

There were numerous arguments regarding the merit of American IndyCar drivers to compete in Formula 1.

In any case, Colton Herta is not getting an exemption anytime soon, and as a consequence, his wait for a Formula 1 seat is likely to go on. He was earlier considered as a potential contender for a Daniel Ricciardo replacement, but McLaren chose the more proven and the driver possessing the required super license points, Oscar Piastri.

Also Read: “I don’t see a weakness in the number of teams,” Stefano Domenicali defends Toto Wolff after Mario Andretti voiced his objection to the Austrian’s viewpoint

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Also Read: “Why deprive us from it” : Mario Andretti slashes Toto Wolff on his disapproval towards Andretti’s entry into F1