The descendants of Formula 1 celebrities want to get into the cockpit. But they end up in smaller races

Finn Mika Häkkinen wants to bring his daughter to Formula 1. He says the genes are undeniable and many children of former Formula 1 drivers are already racing in the junior series of various formulae. But a famous name is no guarantee of success.

Twenty-six-year-old Max Verstappen – the reigning Formula One World Champion – is also the son of a former Formula One driver. His father, Jos Verstappen, is fifty-one years old and has competed in one hundred and six Formula One races. He also worked alongside Michael Schumacher at Benetton in 1994. But name alone is no guarantee of success in Formula One.

By the way, Verstappen senior has never won a major race. But he has learned what it means to be successful. He made the necessary contacts and used all that to boost his son’s career. Verstappen’s school is considered particularly tough, as current Formula One World Champion Max confirms: “Of all the people I deal with, it’s my dad who criticises me the most.”

Formula 1 is not only a top sport, but also a business – genes, name, contacts. But none of that is a guarantee of a place in the premier class of motorsport. After two years in Formula 1 at Haas, twenty-four-year-old Mick Schumacher (24) is back to being “just a test driver”. And that’s despite being the son of world champion Michael Schumacher. Others haven’t even made it this far – Mathias Lauda, son of Niki Lauda, hasn’t made it in the world of formula racing and motorsport.

Juan Manuel Fangio II, whose uncle Juan Manuel Fangiobyl was a Formula One world champion, did race in Formula One in 1973, but only in the Argentine championship, not the Formula One World Championship.

What about her famous father’s daughter Ella Häkkinen, can she become the first successful woman in Formula One? The number of sons, daughters, brothers and nephews of former Formula One Grand Prix drivers is more than twenty. But many of them have already left the direct path to Formula One. David Schumacher, for example, drives race cars in the German DTM touring car series, while Eduardo Barrichello, son of a Formula 1 driver, drives in the Brazilian Touring Car Championship.

But Mika Häkkinen is pinning his hopes on his daughter Ella, who is already racing in the European karting series. “I have to be very careful what I say now so I don’t put too much pressure on my daughter,” said the F1 legend, but added with a smile And racing really loves girls in the cockpits of formula cars.

Getting into Formula One one day is obviously a very tough road. But if he wants to get there, he has to do everything he can and work very hard. Ella Häkkinen would be the first woman to attempt to qualify in a Formula One race since Giovanna Amati at Brabham-Judd in 1992.

Another Finn, forty-four-year-old Kimi Räikkönen, is even moving to Italy from Switzerland to pursue the racing ambitions of his eight-year-old son Robin. The karting scene there is the most professional, the tracks and weather conditions are the best. “As long as he enjoys it, I’ll support him,” says the 2007 Formula One world champion of his son.

Eighteen-year-old Sebastian Montoya, for example, is much further along. He is part of Red Bull’s junior team. Whether this will remain the case in 2024 remains to be seen.

Seventeen-year-old Italian Brando Badoer is already a young McLaren driver. He is at the forefront of Formula Regional Europe, which ranks just below Formula 3. Badoer is regarded as quick as an arrow. His technical knowledge is superb and it’s no wonder his father Luca Badoer (52) is the driver with the most Formula One races without a point.

The Fittipaldi family is also interesting. Four of this “familia” have been in Formula 1 – more than any other family. Emerson Fittipaldi was a two-time world champion, brother Wilson Fittipaldi had his own Formula One team in the 1970s and drove Grand Prix races himself. Wilson’s son Christian was a Formula One driver in the 1990s and Emerson’s grandson Pietro Fittipaldi was in the Haas stable, although he drove “only” two races in 2020. Pietro (27) and brother Enzo (22) will both drive IndyCar in 2024.

Other descendants of former Formula 1 drivers

Arthur Leclerc (23), brother of Ferrari driver Charles (26), is currently only 15th in the Formula 2 championship.

Charlie Wurz (17), son of Alexander Wurz (49), has been driving in Formula 3 for a long time and has not had a particularly good year, but has been extremely fast as a kart driver.

Juji Noda (17), daughter of Hideki Noda (54), has been driving formula racing since she was nine years old. But that was more of an advertising campaign. So far, there have been no successes. In the women’s W Series, she only placed 14th in 2022. She now trains in the Boss Grand Prix with a 500+ horsepower race car.

The career of Enzo Trulli (18), son of Jarno Trulli (49), has stalled in Europe, now excelling in Super Formula Lights in Asian automotive powerhouses. Trulli wants to get into Formula One via Japan.

Giuliano Alesi (24), son of Jean Alesi (59), has also made his way to Japan and won his second Super Formula race in 2021 – totally surprisingly. He lost his cockpit this season. But his future in motorsport is uncertain.

Matthew Brabham (29), grandson of Jack Brabham, drives regularly in the Indy NXT junior series. The goal is no longer Formula One, but rather a full-time cockpit in IndyCar

Source: F1 Insider, Formula 1