by Alex Johnston
With drivers like Nyck De Vries, a multi series champion joining F1 for FP1 this weekend, here’s short glance at a few drivers any prospective FP1 drivers can hope to, or surely do better than.
Calum Ilott and Mick Schumacher - Haas and Alfa Romeo - 2020
It almost seems unfair to include these two in this blog because they are both very, very good drivers.
The 2020 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring ended up being a very decent race, the FP1 session was a little different.
A lot of hype surrounded the session as it was announced that Mick Schumacher, racing for PREMA in F2 at the time, would make his debut in his homeland with Alfa Romeo while his fellow Ferrari Academy driver Calum Ilott would step into the Haas car.
The session was eagerly anticipated and plenty tuned in, but through no fault of either driver, FP1 did not go as planned.
Torrential rain battered the iconic circuit, leaving the visibility so poor that the medical helicopter could not see, meaning the session was not allowed to start.
A disappointing day for all concerned.
Schumacher eventually got his first test with Haas in Abu Dhabi that year, after it was announced he’d race for the team in 2021while Ilott had to wait until the Portimao weekend in 2021 when he sat in with Alfa Romeo.
Dani Juncadella - Force India - 2014
Dani Juncadella has made a decent career for himself to date, largely as a sports car racer.
In 2014 he was the test and reserve driver for the then ‘Sahara Force India’ team, and for the Brazilian Grand Prix took part in FP1.
Unfortunately for Juncadella, coming out of Ferradura, the Spaniard got his car out of shape, and by turn 7, the Curva do Laranjinha, Juncadella found himself in the wall. He finished the session P16 and never took part in a session again.
As a result, Sergio Perez unfortunately missed FP2 due to the damage caused.
Chanoch Nissany - Minardi - 2005
If the word ‘best’ is accurate; I’ve saved best for last.
Chanoch Nissany had signed a deal to be Minardi’s third driver for the 2005 Hungarian Grand Prix - owing to his popularity in Budapest as a businessman and regional racing success.
As part of the deal, Nissany made his FP1 debut at the Hungaroring and it would go down in F1 infamy as perhaps the worst performance in an official session by a racing driver.
During the session, the Israeli boxed after just a handful of laps, complaining the Minardi car had “too much grip”.
Upon his return to the track, Nissany spun the PS05 into the gravel trap, ending his session after only eight laps, 13 seconds off the pace set by leader Alex Wurz.
Amusingly, Nissany’s car was craned away from the circuit with the Israeli STILL IN THE CAR. Nissany couldn’t get out; he had forgotten how to remove the steering wheel.
Nick Heidfeld called Nissany a “danger to the others”. Sounds about right too.
Nissany’s son Roy moved has since moved into racing, and has also completed FP1 sessions with Williams Racing, to much less drama.
Lets hope this weekend goes better for our FP1 drivers.
📸Image credit(s): Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited
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