Formula 1: Find out why there have been no Brazilians racing since 2017

Since 2017, there has been no Brazilian Formula 1 team racing, a sad reality for the country that ranks third with the most titles in history – 8, behind the UK and Germany – and with a track record of drivers in the largest class of motorsport.

This general annoyance in Brazil is more than that because there is still a lot of interest in the race among the people. It is broadcast by BAND decades later on the Rede Globo, there are journalists carefully covering the calendar and we also have the Brazilian GP, ​​in the historic Circuito de Interlagos. There has been interest from the federal government in building a new racetrack in Rio de Janeiro.

So what are the reasons for not having a Formula 1 driver?

Talent shortage?

There are only 20 slots in current Formula 1 and each entry is contested in test sessions and rounds, races of the most diverse categories and variations of seconds and even thousandths. Getting a place in F1 is not an easy task.

The development of in-car technology solutions in the late 1990s and early 2000s supports this thesis. All of our accomplishments have been before that, with Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet achieving their eight titles combined in the ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s.

In the post-Senna era, we had good drivers, like Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa, who came close to getting their titles (especially Massa in 2008), but names like Riccardo Zonta, Porte himself, Antonio Pizzonia and more recently Nelson Beckett Jr., failed Bruno Senna, Lucas de Grassi and Felipe Nasr are making a huge impact.

Investing in dollars

One of the biggest problems in spotting talent in motorsports is the high cost of owning a car, competing, maintaining and growing in categories. What’s more, cars are becoming more modern and advanced.

Another factor that has made it difficult for Brazilians to get into Formula 1 is the increase in the dollar. If this investment was really high – especially without the help of sponsors – the devaluation of the riyal was an even greater complicating factor.

It’s no secret that many teams rely on the care that drivers “bring” on to survive and be competitive. Brazilian Felipe Nasr, for example, has left his place at Sauber after failing to maintain his sponsorship of the Bank of Brazil.

Seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton made no secret of his annoyance and said Formula 1 had become a billionaire club for boys. It is worth noting that some of the names on the current grid, despite their distinction in the lower categories, remain in Formula 1 due to the full pockets of their sponsors.

Could this change?

As bad as it may be, there are still good names in Brazilian motorsport who can dream of a job in Formula 1. Winning a super license is not easy, let alone having the money to compete in the so-called “basic classes” or so you have sponsors strong.

But the rules of this game can still be used to fight for one of the twenty points. Pietro Fittipaldi, for example, is a Haas test driver and has replaced Romain Grosjean on the grid. The Brazilian finished 17th in his two races in 2020.

In case you haven’t noticed, the last name says a lot. Pietro Emerson’s grandson, being the first-great-grandson to race in Formula 1. The children are multiple: Max Verstappen, one of the big names in the category, son of Jos Verstappen and Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion and class legend Michael Schumacher.