GP Prep, the young drivers testing initiative set up by Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony, has been officially approved by Formula One Management. The scheme has launched a website inviting applications from drivers.
The scheme will allow young drivers to test modern Formula 1 cars outside of the restrictions imposed on teams’ testing. Teams cannot test cars on circuits during the F1 season unless they are replacing one of their drivers with someone who lacks prior F1 experience.
According to the site:
To qualify for entrance to the GP Prep Academy, racing drivers must possess the necessary experience in one or more of the following junior or senior Formulae – Formula One, DTM, IRL, Champ Car, GP2, Formula Renault or equivalent, Formula 3 or equivalent, Formula Renault, Formula BMW, or other equivalent series.
The GP Prep Formula One cars are run by current and experienced Formula One personnel from current Formula One teams. We believe that we offer the best test and development career path solution for ‘rookie’ racing drivers who aspire to become Formula One racing drivers.
Meanwhile Hamilton has told Autosport Anthony will no longer be managing his F1 career as he will instead focus on GP Prep and other business interests.
Red Andy
2nd March 2010, 11:15
Formula Renault’s in there twice. Anthony must really like that series.
Tim
2nd March 2010, 13:03
I think the first reference is meant to be Formula Renault 3.5, the second to Formula Renault 2.0.
Tom
2nd March 2010, 11:42
Sounds exciting, nearly signed up myself (“Currently racing for Toro Rosso on a Wii”).
I hope they have more luck sourcing tyres than Stefan GP. If not, this would be an ideal test-bed for new tyre companies bidding to enter F1. Nobody works tyres harder than young drivers!
Tombong
2nd March 2010, 11:52
“Meanwhile Hamilton has told Autosport Anthony will no longer be managing his F1 career as he will instead focus on GP Prep and other business interests.”
Does it mean we wouldn’t see his face again in the mclaren garage every 5 minutes on tv? yaaay
PJA
2nd March 2010, 12:10
In the Autosport article Lewis says that his dad probably won’t go to every race now, but don’t worry there will still be Button Snr and Massa Snr and probably some other F1 dads for the cameras to focus on.
BBQ2
2nd March 2010, 12:24
Lol PJA, you forgot Scherzinger Vs: Michibata :-)
sato113
2nd March 2010, 12:29
scherzinger won’t be there at all because her and lewis broke up.
steph
2nd March 2010, 12:33
Didn’t they get back together though? Oh and Webber snr was there a lot last year and Massa’s brother will probably be back.
S Hughes
2nd March 2010, 12:53
You’re a bit behind the times – they are well and truly back together.
Sick of seeing people complain about Anthony Hamilton’s face in the garage – no other father gets that level of antipathy. Must be because he’s black.
sato113
2nd March 2010, 13:42
oh i’m sorry, don’t really keep up with that kind of stuff.
red bull tastes like crap
2nd March 2010, 19:01
she is puting some pressure on him to get married. She is 31, and possibly thinking about starting a family. I hope hamilton does not get himself into some deal he will regret in the future. He is young, and he could find a younger wife in a few years time. He better focus on his carrer now. But men do some stupid things sometimes.
f1 fan
3rd March 2010, 9:48
Yeah, it does look like we won’t have the pleasure of seeing his face every 5 minutes. ;-)
It may do Hamilton the world of good, who knows…
Kanyima
2nd March 2010, 12:01
Tombog, it doesn’t mean he’s stopped being Lewis’ dad too, does it?
sato113
2nd March 2010, 12:28
good for him. this is a brilliant initiative for F1. we need to see more of this happening.
also, which cars has he secured?
steph
2nd March 2010, 13:05
No clue where to put this so I just thought I’d plonk it here anyway…jody scheckter on BBC 2 tomorrow from 1.30pm I think but no clue why
Tom
2nd March 2010, 15:23
is he selling cheese?
Mike
3rd March 2010, 11:56
You know Tom, I often think what you just said, but I don’t have the guts to say it, you maybe be my Hero, behind Schumacher, Inventor of Cheese and Dr Evil… you get the picture.
red bull tastes like crap
2nd March 2010, 19:03
mclarens i imagine.
Tombong
2nd March 2010, 13:26
@S Hughes : I don’t think the disturbance for seeing Anthony Hamilton’s face is based on race. I agree with the drama provided on tv by covering family of the drivers considering the heat of the competition happened on the track (Brazil 08). But to be fair, don’t you think Anthony Hamilton is overly exposured??
steph
2nd March 2010, 13:29
@S Hughes (the comment won’t let me reply) I don’t dislike seeing Hamilton snr because he’s black…I really don’t care about race. I dislike seeing him, Massa snr, Button snr and Webber snr etc so much because they aren’t driving the cars
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
2nd March 2010, 13:30
I get fed up with the cut-aways to family members when you’re trying to watch the race. Whether it’s been Anthony Hamilton or Erja Hakkinen or whoever, it tends to get over-done.
Robert McKay
2nd March 2010, 13:56
Yes – who wants to watch someone watch something, especially when you’ve tuned in to watch the thing they’re watching. If you get what I mean.
Especially when they see themselves on a monitor and take on a “rabbit in the headlights” look of don’t-do-anything-interesting-and-they’ll-move-on.
steph
2nd March 2010, 13:57
Agree completely with you Keith. I remember on the DVD review for this year there was a cut of Jaime’s family cheering as he went for his first pitstop. I thought that was really lovely. Moments like that are nice but right now there’s just too much cuts to a lot of families rather than racing.
MuzzleFlash
2nd March 2010, 14:02
Especially when they just sit there looking gormlessly at themselves (I assume they are watching the same feed we are). Or utterly clueless about anything which is transpiring around them in Nicole’s case.
At least wave or smile or give the camera the reaction it’s looking for.
Tom
2nd March 2010, 15:33
Almost as bad as the endless shots of the backs of people’s heads on the pit wall.
Just don’t show the family shots live. They’re great in the highlights or delayed slightly so we actually see them react, like the Massas’ premature celebrations at Interlagos.
red bull tastes like crap
2nd March 2010, 19:08
and that’s nothing compared with hakkinen’s first wife. She didn’t have any business being there, on tv. Not very pretty girl, that was around with mika for the glamour,etc. and of course when all that was gone… divorce. Look out lewis, she was older than the finn. Like your chick.
Kanyima
2nd March 2010, 14:04
Well, let’s complain to the broadcasters then to try and consider the negative impact of showing Anthony Hamilton’s face! I know some people are trying to play the usual song of ‘oh, I don’t think it’s because of the guy’s race blah ah blah, but when Anhony Hamilton is singled out, one has enough reason to suspect it may be more than just what it sounds like on the surface. Come on, guys, get a grip! Family members are part of the F1 show just as much as the fans and pretty much most of what happens on or by the circuit whether it be a fan guzzling an icecream in the stands on a hot race day or a rabbit crossing the circuit.
Mark Hitchcock
2nd March 2010, 16:47
Anthony Hamilton is “singled out” because he’s Lewis Hamilton’s dad. And Lewis Hamilton was originally singled out because he was a rookie being thrown into one of the best cars on the grid (being the first black driver was a happy coincidence).
Some people decided they didn’t like him because he had always had the best equipment in the series he raced in.
Some people decided they didn’t like him because rookies don’t deserve to start at the top in F1.
Some people decided they didn’t like him because of his apparent arrogance (or at least, the media’s portrayal of him, which made him seem arrogant).
Some people decided they didn’t like him because they like Alonso and he was Alonso’s closest competitor.
And a very, very small number of people decided they didn’t like him because he’s black.
For most people, his race has nothing to do with their opinion of him, and the only time it’s mentioned is when people like S Hughes fall back on it when he is criticised.
I for one am getting really sick of it.
steph
2nd March 2010, 18:44
Brilliant comment Mark. I think that’s spot on.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
2nd March 2010, 20:23
I’d change that to:
“Some people decided they didn’t like him because they think rookies don’t deserve to start at the top in F1.”
Looking at what Hamilton achieved in 2007, I don’t think you can make a case that he didn’t deserve to be in the McLaren.
Mark Hitchcock
2nd March 2010, 22:47
Yeah, that’s what I meant.
steph
3rd March 2010, 10:13
“Looking at what Hamilton achieved in 2007, I don’t think you can make a case that he didn’t deserve to be in the McLaren.”
I’d personally still like it if all rookies started from the ground up in F1 even if only for a year. Hindsight is great and Lewis really made the most of the Mclaren but Kimi and Alonso had to work their way up and there is the risk of a driver making a step up too soon which can damage their careers (most recent case would possibly be Kovy) so I’d like to ease rookies into it rather than throw them in the thick fo it all.
NomadIndian
2nd March 2010, 17:50
Its tiring to hear people interpret any criticism of the Hamiltons as being racist. The fact that Lewis Hamilton is where he is, is a testament to the reality that the world is NOT racist and does’nt care a fig for that sort of stuff. A few Spanish losers are not a reflection of the world. And Lewis fans should move on. If Hamilton has not said so he should ask his fans to shut up when defending him from such allegedly racist attacks.
Icthyes
3rd March 2010, 0:08
If you had not said ‘a few’ Spanish losers people would be on your back as tarring all Spaniards as racist, which is why you said it. But you’re happy to refer to Hamilton fans as a single block?
NomadIndian
3rd March 2010, 6:22
You are right. Not all Hamilton fans do that.
F1Yankee
2nd March 2010, 14:55
i’m not getting up at 4 or 5 in the morning on a sunday to watch the drivers’ families. although, if more of them looked like nicole schezezzenger i wouldn’t mind.
Kanyima
2nd March 2010, 18:33
I think it’s all very easy to dismiss racism tendencies when you’ve never been at the receiving end.
F1Yankee
2nd March 2010, 19:19
yes, it is very easy, because there is none. we don’t want to see him because he’s NOT DRIVING A RACE CAR.
Mark Hitchcock
2nd March 2010, 19:45
It’s also easy to see racism where there is none if you HAVE been on the receiving end of it.
Icthyes
3rd March 2010, 0:10
To actually talk about the topic at hand! I think this is a pretty good idea by Anthony Hamilton one that’s been a long time coming. I wonder if teams will regularly pay for their third drivers to go for a spin? Could be a good way for teams to substitute drivers without having to make the sacrifices the testing ban requires.
wasiF1
3rd March 2010, 1:22
Nice idea, it will help young & upcoming F1 driver to experience how F1 feels.Wishing the academy all the best.
Terry Fabulous
3rd March 2010, 9:15
This is great news for Lewis. The fact that his Dad is no longer his manager is a big step towards him becoming a real man.
I look at tennis players who still have mummy and daddy looking after their every move, they are basically big teenagers.
Lewis can become his own man, not just his Father’s boy.
f1 fan
3rd March 2010, 9:50
If he is not a real man at 25, and already a world champion, then something is seriously wrong.
Good luck to LH and Mclaren this year.
Terry Fabulous
3rd March 2010, 11:14
Gday F1Fan, Sorry I didn’t make my point!
There is a whole bunch of world champions, gold medalists and sporting champions who are AMAZING athletes and the best in the world.
But they are still children, totally reliant on their parents to organise their affairs, their clothes, their food, indeed every aspect of their life.
Lewis is a Stonkingly good driver and appears to be really friendly and pleasant, neither of which makes him a man, unlike moving from his Father’s protective wing, which will make him a man!
And Good Luck to JB, LH and Mclaren!
BasCB
3rd March 2010, 10:16
The idea of getting promising drivers a go at F1 cars is nice.
I am not sure, that doing it comercially is perfectly OK, will there be competition possible between training schools?
To be really good, he would have to get the FIA, the FOTA and the GPDA on board as well.
I am curious for more details, where he will get the cars (from several teams, how old), who will service them, and what money is involved.
On the cars, maybe StefanGP can help, they seem to have a car ready for testing!
I am glad Hamilton is getting a more normal realtion with his father. Makes him grow up. Yes and i am glad to see less of the fathers of … beeing shown for 15-30 minutes of the race.
ToureH
3rd March 2010, 12:00
This is the first time I have commented on a F1 blog and I must say it is the best I’ve seen! As for the topic at hand; growing up is relative. Lewis will be fine, Anthony is on a new adventure and I wish them both well.
Marc Connell
4th March 2010, 21:11
i wish i could try out :( i spend all my time and money on karting because i cant afford to go into a racing series like formula renault etc. But then again karting > skip a few racing series > f1 is quite a big step D:
bleh why is all this for the rich. I bet theres poor people out that have drove a f3 car or something privately and got on alot better than the racers but they dont race because they cant afford it. And those good people who can drive better than best racers ( im not saying there crap ) wont ever get a chance in F1 and if they did they probably do good!
Chaz
8th March 2010, 18:01
Great stuff. Good luck to Anthony…