If you’re not that well-known in the grand scheme of the motorsports arena, one way you can stand out is by making your mark on social media.
Another way to do so is to offer a scathing critique of something, especially if the take is on point and well-reasoned.
Both of the above points brings us to Jack Aitken, a 19-year-old half English, half South Korean open-wheel prospect, who may have offered the most damning critique of the day on the new points system needed to earn an F1 Superlicense as outlined by the FIA.
Aitken raced this year in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series, where he finished seventh in the 30-driver field and top ranked British driver. He also finished ninth and fourth in a one weekend, two race cameo driving for Team Pelfrey’s Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires team in that series finale at Sonoma in August, on his debut weekend in the series.
So that’s who he is, and here’s what he posted on Twitter on Tuesday:
If you can’t read the small print in full, here’s the full transcript beyond the immediate boom of the FIA/FIFA conspiracy comparison as the tweet intro:
The FIA want us to believe a champion of WSR 3.5 is simply not qualified for F1, whereas the champion of F3, with less than half the power is. Right. As for the Renault 2.0 series, the champion of the Eurocup series is awarded all of 5 of the necessary 40 points, whereas National F4 championships award double that. Not only is the Eurocup widely accepted as an extremely competitive training ground for F1, it is definitely not half as useful preparation for F1 as a championship with cars nearly 7 seconds a lap slower than it. As if this wasn’t enough of a statement of intent, they have reserved the most points for a ‘Future FIA F2’ series, of which there are no real plans whatsoever at the moment. Button, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Schumacher? Wouldn’t qualify. How much further will the FIA go to stamp out rival series to pave the way for their own? They should be focusing on solving the real problems of motorsport, rather than shamelessly promoting themselves.
It’s quite a bold statement to make, considering that as an up-and-coming driver Aitken doesn’t necessarily carry the clout of say, a World Series by Renault or Japanese Super Formula driver who is more established and would have more of a legitimate gripe over the system as outlined, if he or she wasn’t eligible for a Superlicense.
However, consider nearly all the points in this rant are well-reasoned, were picked up throughout the day by drivers and individuals who do carry a certain amount of clout, and you understand that Aitken almost has nothing to lose by saying what he did.
This is an important statement, and it will be interesting to see where Aitken’s career goes on his own and whether he might face any repercussions for his personal taking the FIA to task.
