Nepotism Debate Takes Over F1 as Max Verstappen & Mick Schumacher Get Caught in the Crossfire: “Your Last Name Will Get You…”

Nepotism is more often than not a discussion in sports, music, or the movie industry, among others, and is often blamed for fostering subpar talent in the respective fields. Although for a long time, it wasn’t a major issue in the world of Formula 1, there have been a few sparks here and there over the decades since there have been nearly 20 pairings of father and son. Even if nepotism has allowed the sons to gain a quicker entry into the world of Formula 1, thanks to the goodwill generated by their racing fathers, many of whom were champions as well, it hasn’t helped a lot of them once they have started racing. Formula 1 is an absolutely unapologetic sport that forgives anyone but the one who performs.

There have been two such drivers in the modern era: Max Verstappen and Mick Schumacher, both of whose parents, Jos Verstappen and Michael Schumacher, raced in the same period. And now, the two have come under fire for being carried into the sport on the basis of their connections and names. At the talk show Jinek, Former Red Bull driver, Robert Doornbas, as quoted by F1Maximaal, called the two out for nepotism, saying, “Your last name will get you somewhere faster, but in the end you will be behind with one-zero.” [Translated using Google]

“Max has of course been given the racing DNA from home. His career has become much bigger than his father’s, but it would not have worked this way without Jos,” he added, arguably dismissing Max’s merits and achievements and transferring credit to his father for getting the current champion into the sport.

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For a driver with a well-known surname, nepotism must have played a significant role. But F1 and fans ensure that only the deserving one stays on the grid, such has been the case between Max Verstappen and Mick himself. However, the latter has a long way to go and is believed to be just getting started.

Famous father and sons in Formula 1

Max Verstappen isn’t the only son of a former driver to have won a championship. So it was with Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve, with the latter winning the 1997 championship.

In fact, there have been two instances where both the father and son have won the drivers’ championship. In recent years, there has been Nico Rosberg, whose father Keke Rosberg also won the championship with Williams in 1982. There’s also the pairing of Graham and Damon Hill, with the father winning in 1962 and 1968 and the son in 1996, which falls under this special category.

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What do you think—does nepotism spoil the sport since it might result in deserving drivers missing out on the chance? Or is it fair for the sons to benefit from the family name? Let us know in the comments.