Helio CastronevesTriple Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves has slammed Formula 1 for being all politics.
“Formula 1? It’s a bunch of politics,” he told Forbes magazine. “It’s all politics. Every sport has politics, but it’s so bad. Who you know, who you contact – that’s what it’s all about.”
“They don’t care if you are good,” said the Brazilian. “They don’t care if you are a great person. It feels like Hollywood business. But that’s exactly what it is.”
The 38-year-old Indycar driver said that, of Formula 1’s 24 current drivers, he also respects five.
“I think Alonso, Felipe Massa is a friend of mine, Schumacher. Schumacher is not racing anymore, but … I think Lou..eh, no. I would say Sebastian Vettel. Even Mark Webber. He is a good driver,” he said.
“That’s it. The rest of it is just prima donna drivers and spoiled kids.”
Castroneves insists his opinion about Formula 1 is not because he was never given a chance to succeed at the pinnacle of motor sport.
“I did get a chance,” he said, “but I respect much more what Roger (Penske) did to me. Loyalty and what an incredible team that I wouldn’t even think about changing.” (GMM)