What is a young age in Formula 1? Lewis Hamilton became the youngest man to win a Drivers Championship this term but there may be a fellow Brit to challenge that title.
Max Chilton became the youngest driver to race in the British Formula 3 Championship in 2007 when he raced at Donnington Park on his 16th Birthday. This was the beginning of his valuable experience to try to pursue his route to the top.
Now only a modest 17-years old, he has added another years worth of experience. The 2007 season was his first racing a single-seater and to be in racing in Formula 3 at his age is quite remarkable. Whilst competing for Arena Motorsport, Chilton showed great maturity, as he was able to finish most races, adding to his learning of the sport.
His pace and ability was quickly scouted and was swiftly signed up for the well-known Hitech Racing team, who initially won the 2007 Championship. The 2006 Karting Champions Cup runner-up fills the seat of Estonian Marko Asmer, who won F3 in 2007. He has been signed by the BMW Sauber F1 team as test and reserve driver to continue his developing career.
- B/R Ticket Guide
He had a somewhat indifferent 2008 campaign but at his age, you can barely argue. Still adjusting to the handling of the car, he knows that his was just another learning curve season for him and he expect from himself to be challenging next year. In the T-Car Championship in 2006, he managed an impressive 14 podiums out of 20 races, with seven wins, two seconds, and five thirds. He was only denied the Drivers title by controversial circumstances, as he lost out by three points. Running parallels with Hamilton possibly.
He also achieved a memorable victory in the European Kart Race in Portugal, racing away from an experienced field to win comfortably. These series showed great indication that he was ready for the step up.
Chilton is still relatively unknown in the upper echelons of motorsport and despite his modest good looks and appealing name, he remains firmly determined to reach his inevitable goal to become a Formula 1 driver.
He is under no illusion that getting into one of those 22 seats will be difficult. Some who rose up the ranks with Hamilton in junior Karting ranks have not achieved such great success. Wesley Graves and Gary Paffett both were with the McLaren’s Young Driver Programme before Graves faded away through the lack of financial support and Paffett making a name for himself in the German sports car series DTM.
It is a harsh and tragic truth that the majority of drivers will end up disappointed. Formula 1 is the pinnacle point of motorsport and the competition for those seats will always be severely competitive. They are the finest drivers going head to head with the most technologically tuned four wheeled vehicles.
Chilton is certainly heading towards the right direction. Yet being able to legally consume alcohol, he may be light years ahead of his time. Scouts will be searching these feeder series for the next best thing and if Chilton continues his development he will be snapped up and follow the Hamilton’s example to success.
A successful 2009 series will lead him to GP2 before heading into the glitz and glamour that is known as Formula 1. Watch out for this name.
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about 1 month ago
I raced against Maximo, nickname, don't ask, in two mock F3 races before I ran out of dosh, and he is amazingly quick. I pushed him as hard as I could but to no avail, too quick for me.
Hamilton, you may have a good rival in him.
I think Paffett should be alongside Hammy right now, not Heikki. Paffers has the natural pace needed to push Hammy hard, Heikki does not.
about 1 month ago
Hey Steven, great to see you write on the F1 page, how abouts having Mike Conway in the second McLaren
about 1 month ago
I think Max Chilton will have a good transition to F1, let's wait and see
about 1 month ago
I agree that Max is a future star in the making, will be interesting to see how he gets on at the Macau F3 masters this weekend as that is often the making of a lot of young drivers. I also believe he has had a test recently in a Renault World Series car, whcih is a big step up for someone so young. Sorry to be a fuss but in 2006 Max won 14 races in the T-Car series, which is different from the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
from about 1 month ago
Thanks to notice my error Stuart, T-car is what I initially meant.
As to Mike Conway, being overseen by Martin Brundle and Mike Blundell will benefit him as he has just raced in his second year of GP2. He is definitely one to look out for.
from about 1 month ago
Mark Blundell even? Sorry Steven, you've run into the nit-pick gang. Enjoyed your article and picked it, this is the kind of thing that shows how little I really know about motorsport.
about 1 month ago
Member of the nit-pick gang is back again, there are in fact only 20 seats in the current F1 field rather than 22. There were 22 until Super Aguri pulled out. Only here to help, sorry!!
about 1 month ago
I think a good article gives me information I didn't know and I didn't know this guy existed so good one Steven. Lets hope the Brits will take control of F1.
about 1 month ago
Max did well in a Zytek 07S (LMP1 form) with Michelin tires in the 2007 1,000 km of Silverstone. He raced in that Le Mans Series race with his older brother Tom.
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