The painful reality: the F1 ladder derails when money beats talent

In Formula 3, Cian Shields failed to score a single point, and he repeated that this year in Formula 2 as well. Yet the Scotsman was allowed to drive the Aston Martin in Abu Dhabi, taking part in FP1 as Fernando Alonso’s replacement. Few are likely to believe that the British team did this because they see so much potential in Shields.

It’s more likely that father Seamus Shields paid a hefty sum to have his son take part in FP1. According to the Sunday Times Irish Rich List, in 2024, Shields Sr. was worth €173 million (£151 million), which surely makes negotiating with Aston Martin and AIX Racing easier for him—the team for which his son will also compete in F2 next year.

Motorsport isn’t always fair, that's the conclusion Red Bull junior Tim Tramnitz is likely to draw when he sees his Scottish rival receiving one fantastic opportunity after another, while there isn’t a single spot on the F2 grid for the driver who finished fourth in the F3 championship this season. The reason? His budget is not enough to fund a seat at a Formula 2 team.

In football, an absolute top talent will almost certainly make it to the top. In motorsport, it’s different, because having personal sponsors—and therefore money—often matters more than talent. A rich kid like Cian Shields is currently benefiting from that dynamic.

Tramnitz is also unlucky to be from Germany; a country where Mercedes and Audi are indeed major players in Formula 1, but not one where individual drivers can count on much financial support.

It’s no coincidence that, alongside Tramnitz, only Oliver Goethe competed in feeder series toward Formula 1 last year. It's a true motorsport culture that is currently lacking funds. That will likely only return when Germany produces a new Michael Schumacher or Sebastian Vettel. Therein lies the vicious circle.

Tramnitz is looking at options outside Formula 2 in the coming weeks. Offers exist, but accepting them would likely mean abandoning his Formula 1 dream. Not due to a lack of potential, but due to insufficient sponsorship money.

How unfair this sport can be.

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