Santino Ferrucci- Career over before it starts?
Ferrucci is signed to Haas F1 as a reserve driver
Trident Formula 2 driver Santino Ferrucci has received a four race ban for hitting his team-mate after the Silverstone sprint race.
Haas F1 reserve drive Ferrucci purposefully crashed into the back of Trident team-mate Arjun Maini after he was left frustrated by an on-track battle, where he forced Maini off, subsequently picking up a one race ban for that as well.
As if that wasn't enough of a disastrous weekend for the 20 year-old American, he was fined $7,000 for driving from the support race pit to the main pit with one glove off and his phone in hand, adding to the $70,500 fine for crashing into Maini after the race.
To add to the horrific decision making, Ferrucci decided to fly back to the US without attending his FIA hearing after the race.
Ferrucci only made matters worse as he took to Twitter to lash out at Maini, who Trident alleged was bullied by Ferrucci and his father throughout the weekend.
Trident came out in support of Maini, also a Haas junior driver, saying that they would stand with the Indian racer due to "the unsportsman like and above all uncivilized behaviour that he was forced to endure" from Ferrucci and his father.
Despite this, Haas are yet to have released him a week on from the ordeal, with team principal Gunther Steiner stating he was aware of the incident and would investigate it soon after it happen.
Six days ago, the American F1 team released a statement saying they were still gathering information on the matter but have not released a statement since.
Ferrucci appologised through Twitter, claiming there was no intent in his actions and appologising to his teams and the FIA, however not appologising to Maini.
Ferrucci has form for this type of behaviour however. Stepping in for Pietro Fittpaldi at the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix, he brake-checked Charlie Kimball, taking himself out of the first race of the weekend. He then "punted" Spencer Pigot in the second race, with Pigot saying Ferrucci lacked respect and labeled his behaviour "silly".
In my personal opinion, Ferrucci's career should be done. Crashing into your team-mate on purpose is bad enough, but teamed with bullying allegations and the complete lack of respect for the championship, Ferrucci doesn't deserve the opportunity to take a seat from another talented driver with the correct attitude.
While a 20 year-old is acting like a spoiled, petulant child, 17 year-old Sophia Floersch was announced as a Formula 3 driver. As a woman, her opportunities are harder to come by in racing to start with, but she is using her platform to inspire young females to get into racing and is outspoken in her support for women in motorsport.
Also, in the same location on the same weekend, another 20 year-old was performing excellently before a pit stop issue forced him out of the F1 showpiece. Charles LeClerc dealt with his retirement with maturity well above his years and has shown himself as an incredibly well spoken and extremely talented young driver. This suggests age is not a factor in Ferrucci's behaviour.
There is, without doubt, drivers who hold as much if not more talent then Ferrucci with a far better attitude who are yet to be signed in an F1 junior program, so it's difficult to see why Haas would stand by Ferrucci and face a backlash, as well as putting their relationship with Maini into jeopardy. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out over the coming days and weeks.
Update (18/7)- Trident have parted company with Ferrucci, citing further issues with payments due from Ferrucci as an extra motivation to terminate his contract.