IndyCar drivers can only reach Formula One through European series

Josef Newgarden is now a successful IndyCar driver, but he would also have liked to be on the Formula 1 grid. According to the American driver, it is quite difficult for IndyCar drivers to get into Formula 1, as the European series seem necessary.

Newgarden drove in Formula Ford, which then allowed him to move up to the GP3 class for Carlin Motorsport. A year after his GP3 debut, he made the move to Indy Lights, before appearing on the IndyCar grid in 2012.

Many drivers want to become Formula One drivers eventually, but there are not enough opportunities and seats at the moment. Nowadays you need a very big budget and because of that the American thinks there is little chance he will ever appear on the Formula One grid. "It's almost impossible in my eyes," he told the The Race IndyCar podcast.

According to the IndyCar driver, it also seems necessary to go through the European series, but it may take a while before an IndyCar driver appears on the Formula One grid because of that reason. "You still have to find the political attitude and the support on the European side to make it to Formula One. You're not going to do it through IndyCar unless there's a very special circumstance," Newgarden said.