(GMM) The nearing end of the pay-driver era is a 'worrying' phenomenon.
That's the belief of former formula one team owner Eddie Jordan, who also laments the demise of fellow pitlane privateers Sauber and Minardi.
He points out that F1's 'current stars' Michael Schumacher (Jordan), Fernando Alonso (Minardi) and Kimi Raikkonen (Sauber), got their breaks with the now-defunct teams.
Jordan worried in his F1 Racing column: ''Who now will give young drivers ... their first chance?' He rejected the idea that a 'driver bringing money' is a 'bad thing'.
In 2006, Jordan's new identity - Midland - is perhaps the last shop for pay-drivers. Red Bull, including the former Minardi, will bring on its own youngsters, while BMW (Sauber) becomes a bigger fish.
But even Schumacher paid to debut for Eddie Jordan in 1991, and Alonso's Minardi drive carried the backing of Renault and boss Flavio Briatore.
Minardi's departing Paul Stoddart admits that, often, he signed the driver who wielded the biggest sack of cash.
''I'm not denying that,'' the Australian said, ''but the best drivers came through here.''
Written: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 12:13:28
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