Misunderstanding for discarded Ferrari junior: 'I don't get it'

Robert Shwartzman spent the last few years at Ferrari working hard to one day get into Formula 1. For now, however, it is not enough, as the driver will not be on the grid in the motorsport class next season either. Shwartzman understands little of it, he tells candidly to Motorsportweek.com.

The Israeli could be admired in both 2020 and 2021 Formula 2, in which he showed clear development. Where he experienced a good first season, and a year later he finished in second place behind his teammate Oscar Piastri.

This calendar year, he did not return to Formula 2, but secured a place as a Ferrari test driver. During the first free practice of the United States Grand Prix, he was in action for the team. However, although the Italians are happy with him, he will not drive in Formula 1 in 2023 either.

It is causing Shwartzman to start losing hope for a chance. "At this stage I don’t know. I can guess maybe not. And that’s obviously very sad for me because it has been such a big work and I kept on pushing and believing and at the end still it doesn’t happen for various reasons," the talent reveals.

In doing so, he partly blames the motorsport class. "I mean, F1 is a bit weird to be honest these days, for me at least. I don’t really understand it, the line-up and the driver decisions teams do, I don’t get it from my side. I don’t want to put names, but for me unfortunately it doesn’t always go by the merit."