De Ferran: Data allows younger drivers to reach the top sooner

McLaren sporting director Gil de Ferran believes that the plethora of data available to drivers coming through the ranks of lower formula racing to climb the motorsport ladder faster.

The McLaren man explained that the vast amounts of data gathering done by teams throughout motorsport means that young drivers aiming to reach Formula 1 can do so quicker by understanding and applying technical information available to them.

Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, de Ferran admitted that while it was a useful tool for drivers to use, he does not believe that the practice has gone too far.

“Is it too much? No I don’t [think so] actually because certainly I enjoy looking at all the data,” he is quoted by Crash.Net.

“Not just the data but the sophistication of the analysis of data that is done over the data.

"I find it quite helpful and I often sit there and think I wish I had that when I was driving or I wish I understood it better when I was driving.

“The short answer is no [it’s not too much], it helps the drivers understand better what they are doing and how they are doing certain things.

“It helps on their development, in fact part but not all of the phenomenon you see from young drivers like Lando operating at such a high level already is due to that.”