Finland is known for its great F1 traditions. There has been a Finnish driver in the top series continuously for more than 30 years.
During the last 30 years, they have been driving in formula one Mika Hakkinen, Jyrki Järvilehto, Mika Salo, Kimi Raikkonen, Heikki Kovalainen and Valtteri Bottas. Similarly, Sweden has only had one F1 driver in the same period.
Kevin Magnussen is the only Dane to reach the podium. Norway and Estonia, on the other hand, do not have any F1 drivers.
While Finland’s F1 streak is in danger of being broken in the coming years, several drivers from other Nordic countries and Estonia have come in recent years who have done great in the small formula classes that are closer to formula one.
In Estonia and Denmark in particular, we can talk about some kind of boom. In Denmark, hopes have been entertained from time to time for the F1 race to be held in Copenhagen.
Although there is talent, it has been really difficult for the drivers of those countries to get an F1 driving seat. In the 21st century, Magnussen and Sweden Marcus Ericsson have driven longer in the series. In addition to them, a Dane Nicholas Kiesa ran a few races in the early 2000s.
Finland’s brightest formula hope at the moment is 17 years old Tuukka Taponen, which is forging hard results in the small formula classes. Since Finland has become competition winners as well as world champions, it has a clear advantage in terms of reputation compared to the other Nordic countries and Estonia.
– We have a good history in both formula and rally. There have been successful drivers. In addition, there have been other successful people in the background developing drivers and taking them forward, Taponen’s manager Jussi Kohtala says.
Urheilu reviews the brightest formula promises from other Nordic countries and Estonia, whose F1 dream has already faded or is still possible.
F1 dream definitely over: Christian Lundgaard, 22 (DEN)
The Dane, born in 2001, was for a while the academy driver of the Renault (now Alpine) F1 team. He had a reputation as a fast driver, but a couple of seasons in the F2 series (2020–2021) did not open the door to F1.
Two years ago, you interestingly headed to the United States and IndyCar. The young driver has already stood on the first podium once.
Juri Vips, 23 (EST)
Estonian Juri Vips was really close to the F1 race a couple of years ago. He had performed excellent performances in several small formula classes. Red Bull had strong faith in its academy driver.
The worst mishap happened outside the track events. Two years ago, he played the war game Call of Duty on the Twitch streaming platform. At the end of the game, the Estonian made racist comments about another player.
Vips’s speeches spread through social media all the way to Red Bull’s attention. The giant organization showed the Estonian the door.
Dennis Hauger, 21 (NOR)
Norway is known for its versatile sporting success, but the fjord country has never had a driver in the F1 series. One of the country’s most talented track racers is 21 years old Dennis Hauger, who won the F3 championship three years ago. He was a Red Bull academy driver for a long time.
In the F2 series, things went wrong at the very beginning, when he was only tenth in his rookie season. The Norwegian is stuck in the series as the driver of the other category. The collaboration with Red Bull, which lasted six seasons, ended at the end of last year.
F1 dream at stake: Frederik Vesti, 22 (DEN)
When the flame of Lundgaard’s F1 dream went out, the eyes of the Jews turned to the one born in 2002 to Frederik Vest. The Mercedes junk made a steady mark in every small formula class, but the sharpest top results were exhausted for a long time.
Last year in F2, Vesti drove an excellent season and fought for a long time for the series championship, eventually coming second. The 22-year-old Dane achieved several victories, but also made mistakes that were fatal for the title. Vesti is working as a reserve driver for Mercedes this year, but the place of F1 race driver does not seem likely.
Dino Beganovic, 20 (SWE)
Bosnian-Swedish Beganovic is Sweden’s brightest formula hope at the moment. Two years ago, Ferrari’s driver promise won the championship of the European Formula Regional series, which is fourth on the FIA ladder. Beganovic’s trademark is three Swedish crowns on a helmet.
The last two seasons in the F3 series have been tight for the Swede. Has remained in Ferrari’s rock-solid young driver’s academy by Oliver Bearman, Tuukka Taponen and Rafael Camara compressions. It will be the last season of his career in the academy of the Italian giant.
The F1 dream lives on: Paul Aron, 20 (EST)
From Estonian About Paul Aron has stealthily become one of the most interesting young drivers outside of F1. Valtteri Bottas stylish, steady, sure, but not the most dazzling driver, has cleared his way to the gates of the F1 series with hard work, like a Finn.
Has been in the top three of the overall points several times in smaller classes. Now unexpectedly leads the F2 series, even though he hasn’t won a single race. There have been the most number of podium places, seven.
There is a crying shortage of drivers like Aron in F1. Even if the Estonian wins the championship of the F2 series this season, it is still likely that he will not be seen in the race driver’s seat next season in formula one.
Aron was still part of Mercedes’ junior program last year, but Mercedes still wants to invest everything in the super talent To Kimi Antonelli17, who has been with the organization’s Academy since he was 11 years old.
– He (Aron) has pretty good results from past years. If you win the F2 championship in your rookie season, that’s something you can’t ignore. Many times rookie drivers do not drive consistent results.
The fact that Aron does not have the support of an F1 team in his background may be the biggest obstacle in terms of an F1 driving position.
– When today most of the drivers come from the academies, it is clear that his background troops will have a hard time getting him an F1 place somewhere.
Martinius Stenshorne, 18 (NOR)
Norwegian Martinius Stenshorne raised its shares in a big way last year by finishing second in the European Formula Regional series. Challenged the megatalent Antonelli for a long time for the championship.
Currently driving his moderate debut season in the F3 series. The biggest star moment so far is the first place in the sprint race of the second weekend. Stenshorne signed an academy contract with McLaren in the spring.
He has been overshadowed by his teammate Luke Browning, who is fighting for the championship. Although four years older, Browning clearly has more driving experience.
– I personally expected much more from Stenshorne this year. However, he has not been able to challenge anywhere, says Kohtala.