Le Mans winner Bamber not eyeing F1 switch

  • Published on 10 Jun 2016 08:38
  • 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra

A reigning winner of the fabled 24 hours of Le Mans says he is not keen on pushing for an opportunity to race in formula one. Last year, one of Nico Hulkenberg's winning teammates at Le Mans for Porsche was Earl Bamber, a 25-year-old New Zealander who told Britain's Sun newspaper that F1 is lacking "structure".

"There are no professionals in there anymore, only people who want to pay money, and the problem is the cars are too focused on engineering," he said. "If you are rich you can pay to win. There are only a few seats - Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, where you make good money - the rest, everyone pays," Bamber added.

He said that for those reasons, he is no longer interested in F1 despite dreaming as a child of racing at the pinnacle of motor sport. "I would never race in F1. It has changed a lot for me since I was growing up."

"There used to be more factory-supported teams -- Ferrari, Honda, BMW. There were seven or eight competitors but now there are like three. Maybe it changes in a few years but for me at the moment I would not look at F1 -- unless Ferrari come calling!" said Bamber. (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Wolfgang

    Posts: 313

    hum.. maybe a little bit disappointed not getting the chance to drive F1?

    "The cars are too focused on engineering" Erm, Sorry, but what do you drive? A complete 2.0 V4 1000HP systempower monster with four wheel drive and systems in it that are not even thinkable in F1. (Wastegate energy recover turbine, variable compressio-ratio with variable rods etc etc)

    This sentence is just stupid. Only argument could be the complex aero in F1, but look at WEC Audis, Porsche etc.. They also are very complex AND quicker around corners as F1 cars..

    • + 1
    • Jun 10 2016 - 09:18

Related news