Godparents, academies and money: the difficult road to Formula 1: "It is the most unfair sport"
«It was difficult for me to assume that I would not race in Formula 1, to give it up, to find another way. But there comes a point where you have to know where you belong”, acknowledges 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 lacked 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 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 for what you have done in lower categories or that your father is a billionaire or a person with influence,” he explains. Juncadella, who exemplifies that difficulty to climb in the Brazilian Felipe Drugovich. Last year he swept Formula 2, but he did not receive the contract that his former rival Logan Sargeant has, for example, fourth in the last year in the Formula 1 prelude.
Looking at Spain, in the post-Fernando Alonso era, Jaime Alguersuari, Carlos Sainz and Roberto Merhi have managed to debut while Juncadella or Dani Clos have not.. Awaiting is, at the moment, Álex Palou. “Motor racing 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, “says Facundo Regalia, a former Argentine driver, who was also a tester for Force India in 2014 and stayed no official premiere. «I missed that step: that someone bet on me. I got to meet with the then president of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner, I went to Dubai to meet Diego Armando Maradona because he was interested, I visited many companies, but in the end no one took the step,” he recalls.
first thing, improve
That is why Regalia is now the drivers' manager and directs the race of kids who aspire to Formula 1, like Mari Boya, one of the two Spanish drivers in Formula 3 -along with Pepe Martí-. 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 road because there is a Grand Prix, two very prominent drivers in Formula 1…. It is a challenge, but we must find interested companies”, concludes Regalia and emphasizes a maxim: pessimism cannot overcome the young pilot. “Getting there is difficult, but you always have to try,” he says.
In his mind that Boya reaches Formula 1 in 2026. Before 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 for myself in a school this year or the next”, acknowledges Boya himself, 19, with amazing clarity about his career.. «My goal is Formula 1 and until I see that it really is impossible, I will fight hard to get there.. If not, I hope to be a professional pilot, resistance, 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 the motor. 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 did not miss a Fernando Alonso race at Ferrari and insisted on going karting, even if it was far from home. As the Spanish kart champion in several 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”, Boya concludes.