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Oliver Rowland says that the current pool of young talent in motorsport will make it more difficult to break into Formula 1. The Briton is Williams' official young driver for the 2019 season, and took part in the in-season test at the Hungaroring this week.
The 25-year-old drove the FW41 on Tuesday during the first day of running in Budapest. Speaking about his outing, the former Formula 2 driver admitted that he was "a bit disappointed" as rain hampered his running towards the end of the session.
Williams' driver line-up for the 2019 is uncertain, with Lance Stroll rumoured to be heading to Force India. With Rowland eyeing a seat in F1, he admits that the array of young drivers might mean his chances for a seat in motorsport's pinnacle could be dented.
"There's a lot of people knocking on the door that are quite young," he said. "I'm pretty happy with where I am at the moment. The relationship with the team is growing stronger and stronger and I'm enjoying what I'm doing back at the factory. So, I have to keep pushing on that side, keep doing what I can for the team, and who knows where it will lead."
Rowland says he will do his job quietly and hope he is noticed up and down the paddock: "The people at Williams have two drivers with contracts for next year so normally you'd say no but everybody hears the rumours," said Rowland.
"I'm just staying quiet. The team seem pretty happy with what I'm doing so I'm not going to go breaking down doors to say, 'Look at me', that sort of thing. I'm just going to do my job, go about it quietly, and hope they notice."
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (4)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
For drivers who win multiple championships in junior categories there will always been opportunities in F1. It's the ones that won nothing or showed little promise that makes it difficult for young drive
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
.. Drivers to make it to F1. Sirotkin, Ericsson are the only ones with F1 seats. But there are plenty of test drivers who are pay drivers.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yet we have do many that deserve the shot but will never get the chance. Blomqvist is but one of many and I wonder what could've been had Wirdheim received a race seat.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
I cant see Rowland getting a seat.