BUDAPEST, Hungary — Jaime Alguersuari will become the youngest driver to race in Formula One this weekend, and is drawing criticism from fellow drivers about his inexperience even before the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Spaniard spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since taking over for 30-year-old Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais. Alguersuari said his objective this season is to simply figure out what being an F1 driver is all about.
“I know I’m not really experienced, I know I don’t have mileage with the car, but that’s what we’re here for,” said Alguersuari, who joins from Renault’s World Series. “It’s a new car for me, a new championship for me, but I have to learn.”
Alguersuari will set the age record Sunday at 19 years, 126 days, breaking New Zealand driver Mike Thackwell’s mark by 57 days.
Among the drivers critical of the move was Mark Webber, who drives for sister team Red Bull.
“I’ve never been a big fan of Formula One being a learning school, but it seems that it is these days,” Webber said. “When you arrive in Formula One you should be ready. It’s not a place to learn.”
Current championship leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP said the move could “make or break” Alguersuari’s career.
“At his age it could absolutely destroy his career,” Button said. “It could end his dream of being competitive in Formula One. I don’t know the reasons for him getting the drive. I can guess, but he’s not going to help the team develop the car.”
Alguersuari will become the second Spanish driver on the grid after two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who also made his debut at 19.
“When you have the opportunity to drive a Formula One car, how can you say no?” Alonso said. “It’s a big opportunity, the opportunity of your life, and you need to take it.”
Felipe Massa wasn’t so sure.
“For me he’s too young,” said the Ferrari driver, who started at age 20. “For me it’s wrong. It’s not good for him. I’m surprised a team would put a guy like this in the car.”
Alguersuari, whose only test drives have been in a simulator, is following in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica, two young and widely lauded drivers who also made the jump directly to F1 from the World Series.
“I’m happy to be here but in the end it’s just another car in my racing career and my life,” Alguersuari said. “I’m relaxed, I know what I can do and know what people can expect from me. At the end, it’s one steering (wheel) and two pedals.”
The 32-year-old Webber became one of the oldest winners in F1 at this year’s German GP. It took the Australian 132 races over seven years to finally reach the top of the podium.
“He’ll be quick enough, but he’s got to learn,” Webber said. “It’s not that easy when you arrive.”
Admitted to Red Bull’s young drivers program in 2005, Alguersuari went on to win the British F3 title last year at 18 — a series previously won by names like Jackie Stewart, Jim Taylor and Mika Hakkinen.
Alguersuari, who speaks English, Spanish, French, Italian and Catalan, is using the final eight races on the calendar to prepare for 2010, when more will be expected from him.
“The first weekend around here,” said Alguersuari, who will team with fellow rookie Sebastien Buemi. “We know it’s not an easy track to do the first race, but obviously this is the situation right now and we have to do our best job.”
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