F1: Sponsors, academies and money: the difficult road to Formula 1: “It is the most unfair sport”

Two Spaniards, Mari Boya and Pepe Martí, are fighting for promotion to the World Cup. “Either the head of a team falls in love with you or your father is a millionaire,” summarizes Dani Juncadella, who was one step away

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It was hard for me to assume that I would not race in Formula 1, to give it up, to find another path. But there comes a point where you have to know where you belong, recognize dani juncadella, the last Spanish rider to be one step away from the World Cup. In the lower categories he accumulated titles -Formula 3 and the Macau Grand Prix-, in 2014 he was a reserve driver for Force India and the following year he was about to debut in the championship. He lacks a godfather or sponsor. And his childhood dream is gone. Today he is a Mercedes driver in endurance and touring car races and his story is the best example that meritocracy does not decide who makes it to the Great Circus.

The 20 drivers who will contest the race in Canada this Sunday (8:00 p.m., DAZN) have the skills to be where they are, but several of them rose thanks to their families and their portfolios. There are two paths: that the head of a Formula 1 team falls in love with you, with your way of driving, with your professionalism because of what you have done in lower categories or that your father is a billionaire or a person with influence, explains Juncadella, that exemplifies that difficulty to climb in the Brazilian Philip Drugovich. Last year you swept away in Formula 2, but you did not receive the contract that your former rival has, for example. logan sergeantfourth the last course in the Formula 1 prelude.

Looking at Spain, in the post-Fernando Alonso they have managed to debut Jaime Alguersuari, Carlos Sainz and Roberto Merhi while Juncadella or Dani Clos. Waiting is, for now, Lex Palou. Motorsport is the most unfair sport there is. Talent helps, it generates possibilities, but the budget you can generate is more important and the teams in which you run in lower categories also have an influence, he comments. Regalia, former Argentine pilot, who was also a tester for Force India in 2014 and was left without an official premiere. I missed that step: that someone would bet on me. I got to meet with the then president of Argentina,Cristina KirchnerI went to Dubai to meet Diego Armando Maradona because he was interested, he visited many companies, but in the end no one took the plunge, he recalls.

first thing, improve

That’s why Regalia is now the driver’s manager and directs the race of kids who aspire to Formula 1, like mari buoyone of the two Spanish drivers in Formula 3 -alongside Pepe Martin-. How to help them? The first thing is to improve their driving, guide them in physical and mental work. For example, we are installing a simulator at Mari’s house so that she can work at all times. Then there is the work with the sponsors. In Spain right now there is a way because there is a Grand Prix, two very outstanding drivers in Formula 1… it is a challenge, but we must find interested companies, Regalia concludes and affects a maxim: pessimism cannot overcome the young driver . Getting there is difficult, but you always have to try, he says.

In his mind, Boya will reach Formula 1 in 2026. Before that, he must get on podiums in Formula 3 -at the moment he has a sixth place as the best result- and convince some of the teams in the premier category, which mostly have driver academies. I have realized that everything I have earned in karting is absolutely useless. I have to stand out in Formula 3 and find a place in a school this year or next, Boya, 19, admits with amazing clarity about his career. My goal is Formula 1 and until I see that it really is impossible to fight hard to get there. If not, I hope to be a professional, endurance pilot, whatever, he adds.

Born in Les, in the Val d’Aran, very close to the border with France, all the children in his area dedicated themselves to skiing and mountaineering, but he was always devoted to motoring. So much so that at the age of five they changed the pacifier that he did not let go of for a trial motorcycle. So much so that he does not miss a Fernando Alonso race at Ferrari and insists on going karting, even if he is far from home. As a Spanish kart champion in various categories, he won a scholarship to live and train at the Sant Cugat High Performance Center (CAR) and little by little he rose to where he is today: he is two steps away from Formula 1. But what Two steps. I am not deluded, I know that there are 20 seats and that I may not arrive. But I also know that if they give me the opportunity I can do it, concludes Boya.