GP2 racer James Calado has said that he feels talent can still beat money when getting selected for an F1 seat.
In recent years the phrase 'pay driver' has been used to describe a number of F1 racers that bring funding and money to a team - Pastor Maldonado and Max Chilton are two examples - but this has been in the sport for some time. Calado is adamant that talent can still prevail.
The Brit managed to get his first taste of Formula 1 machinery at the Silverstone track on Wednesday (17th July) at the Young Driver Test. He drove for Force India - a team that he completed a straight line test for earlier in the year.
He currently races in GP2 and sits fifth in the standings after two podium finishes at the last round in Germany.
Speaking to reporters after his morning run in the car, Calado said: "Formula One has the best cars you can drive and the best drivers in the world, so of course it's going to be very difficult.
"Over the years it's got tougher with money being a big factor, but I'm a believer in talent showing and getting you through and all I can do is do as good a job as I can in the GP2 car and when I'm doing days like this. I'm not really thinking of the future although I do realise it's hard, but I can only do the best I can."
Force India are renowned for bringing young drivers in as reserve drivers before promoting them to race seats. However that isn't something that sits heavily on his mind: "You don't think about that as a driver. This [Wednesday] morning it felt very good and I'm just giving as much feedback to the team as possible."
Calado will take to the Silverstone track on Thursday and Friday morning of the test too.
In recent years the phrase 'pay driver' has been used to describe a number of F1 racers that bring funding and money to a team - Pastor Maldonado and Max Chilton are two examples - but this has been in the sport for some time. Calado is adamant that talent can still prevail.
The Brit managed to get his first taste of Formula 1 machinery at the Silverstone track on Wednesday (17th July) at the Young Driver Test. He drove for Force India - a team that he completed a straight line test for earlier in the year.
He currently races in GP2 and sits fifth in the standings after two podium finishes at the last round in Germany.
Speaking to reporters after his morning run in the car, Calado said: "Formula One has the best cars you can drive and the best drivers in the world, so of course it's going to be very difficult.
"Over the years it's got tougher with money being a big factor, but I'm a believer in talent showing and getting you through and all I can do is do as good a job as I can in the GP2 car and when I'm doing days like this. I'm not really thinking of the future although I do realise it's hard, but I can only do the best I can."
Force India are renowned for bringing young drivers in as reserve drivers before promoting them to race seats. However that isn't something that sits heavily on his mind: "You don't think about that as a driver. This [Wednesday] morning it felt very good and I'm just giving as much feedback to the team as possible."
Calado will take to the Silverstone track on Thursday and Friday morning of the test too.
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