Verstappen has little sympathy: 'Then you're just not good enough'

Pourchaire is not the only one: even a top talent like Oscar Piastri, after winning the title in F2, had to watch from the sidelines for a year as there was no place for him on the F1 grid. Eventually, McLaren brought in the youngster, and Piastri was able to deliver a fine debut season. Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 F2 champion, was denied a spot in Formula 1 for the second year in a row and also waited for what was to come in 2024.

Verstappen himself is proof

For Max Verstappen, at the age of 16 and after just one season in Formula 3, there was already a place in F1. So the Dutchman is proof that talents can definitely advance to the premier class. "If you have talent and you are one of the best, you will get there," Verstappen told De Telegraaf.

"Anyway. People who say it's impossible are often just not good enough. Then you hear things like: I had no money or I had bad luck here and there. You then see all those excuses coming up. No, then you're just not good enough. It's as simple as that in my eyes. Of course, some things are out of your control and certain drivers come into Formula 1 with a lot of money. But the real, genuine talents always come."

According to Verstappen, there are a lot of good drivers in the world, who in the basics are quite capable of reaching Formula 1. But ultimately only the absolute top talents succeed, is his firm belief. Moreover, Verstappen points out, Formula 1 is not sacrosanct. Being a good F1 driver, for example, does not mean you are also strong in other disciplines, such as endurance or rallying.