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Formula One is often seen as the pinnacle of motorsport racing and securing a place for an F1 team is a very difficult task. With the expenses involved and the cut-throat talent, racing in Formula One remains only as a dream for many.
However, at times, a few drivers rise above their competition and showcase immense skill behind the steering wheel, making their entry into Formula One only a question of time and not of talent, and in this article, let us look closer at the five young drivers, currently competing in various racing competitions around the globe, who deserve a spot in Formula One in the near future.
#5 Anthoine Hubert
Anthoine Hubert is a 22-year-old French racing driver currently competing in the GP3 championship for the ART Grand Prix Team.
The Frenchman found success in karting before moving on to French F4 championship in 2013. Hubert secured the championship in the first season itself, and after several seasons in other championships, he moved to the GP3 series in 2017. Failing to register any win in his first season restricted him to a fourth place in the championship standings.
However, Anthoine Hubert has been a revelation in the 2018 GP3 season as the French driver is currently first in the championship with 199 points (until the race at the Sochi Autodrom). Securing the championship at the end of this season would showcase his immense talent and also signal his intent to move to the pinnacle of motorsport racing – Formula One.
#4 Jack Aitken
Jack Aitken is a 23-year-old British racing driver currently plying his trade in Formula 2 for the ART Grand Prix Team.
The Briton rose to prominence when he secured the second spot in the 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC championship. Two years later, Aitken bettered himself and captured the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship. Further successes at other championships secured him a ride in GP3 in 2016.
After finishing fifth in his debut season, Jack Aitken took a brilliant second place in the 2017 GP3 championship, which promoted him to Formula 2. With a single win, the Briton is currently tenth in the championship (until the race at the Sochi Autodrom).
His entry into Formula One seems a very good possibility as the Briton is currently signed with Renault as a development driver.
#3 Mick Schumacher
Mick Schumacher is a 19-year-old German racing driver currently competing in the Formula 3 championship for the Prema Theodore Racing Team.
2016 was the breakout year for the young German as he managed to secure the second place in both ADAC and Italian Formula 4 Championship. After spending a season at the MRF Challenge 2000 that saw him finish third in the drivers’ championship, Mick Schumacher moved to Formula 3 in 2017. After a mediocre debut season, the German driver is now at the top of his game and leads the championship 329 points (until the race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria).
Like his father, Michael Schumacher, Mick Schumacher could well race in Formula 1 for the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes if he continues to put in stellar performances day in and day out.
#2 Dan Ticktum
The 19-year-old British racing driver currently competes in the Formula 3 Championship for the Motopark Academy team.
Dan Ticktum initially found success at WSK masters and the WSK Champions Cup in 2014 before racing in MSA Formula 4 Championship in 2015 and 2016. However, 2017 brought him to spotlight as he was signed by Red Bull to be a part of the junior team. It is, in this year, the Briton won his first prestigious Macau Grand Prix.
In 2018, Ticktum competes in Formula 3 Championship and is currently in the second place, trailing Mick Schumacher (until the race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria).
Being a part of the Red Bull junior team is a huge advantage to have if one is looking to break ranks into Formula One. With a couple of successful seasons in either F3 and F2, Dan Ticktum’s first F1 race with Toro Rosso couldn’t be that far away.
#1 George Russell
George Russell is yet another driver from Britain and currently competes in the Formula 2 Championship for the ART Grand Prix Team. Also, he is a reserve driver for the Mercedes F1 AMG team.
Russell’s first moment of fame came in 2014 when he won the BRDC Formula 4 Championship in the very last race of the season. Two years later, the British driver competed in F3 for HitechGP team and finished the drivers’ championship in the third place. Moving to ART in 2017 changed his fortunes as he secured the GP3 championship with four race wins to his name.
Currently, George Russell leads the F2 Championship with 248 points (until the race at the Sochi Autodrom in Russia), and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he could well clinch the championship.
If Russell continues to perform with these standards for the next couple of years, he could see himself driving for a Formula One team in the not so distant future.
