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Formula 1 is a team sport, part 3

09.08.2026 - If you haven't read part 2, click HERE.

Once season 53 started, Pegaso had a healthier economy and a car that could score more than 1 or 10 points. The season started nicely, scoring points in 4 of the first 5 races, and the maxed-out wet weather skills, something the team always lacked, were displayed in our home race. Fontainbleau's driver Webber started on P2 and led at the end of the first lap, when his engine broke down. Boutsen started on P6, but had better luck taking his first-ever podium and Pegaso's first in 15 seasons. All of this felt very different to prior occasions, and motivation was definitely back for me.

Our performance didn't go unnoticed, and after long talks about lots of things, we managed to convince Keiyote to join our project. At that point, contrary to what was said by other team managers, I wasn't looking to poach other teams' members. The only thing I was looking for was people who shared my views and were aiming for the same thing: finding ways to get better. Seasons 54 to 57 might have been a step back in terms of results, but they paved the way for Pegaso's ambitious attitude of today and allowed us to revamp the team's finances for good.

The Spanish F1 team was indeed becoming more and more international, but we never wanted to forget about our compatriots. That is why I decided to get involved with all Spaniards in their drivers' development. I can say I am very proud of what all of us have achieved since then, and very grateful for all the help they have given me. Collectively, I think the following picture might say more than a thousand words. We are just missing one final step.



Since this worked in Spain, with Thisken and Keiyote, we decided to launch it globally. That is how the Pegaso Driver Development Programme was born. Both Thisken and I have widely spoken about it in our particular articles, so I won't address it this time.

However, what I would really like to address is the thought that F1 is a closed sport. And please allow me to get a bit fired up: of course it is! Especially when nobody attempts to get F1 closer to people. Have any of you tried otherwise? I can't answer that question for you, but I am sure I have, and I can't complain about the result. I have even tried to help other teams who were in a similar situation as I was before Petu appeared.

Others say F1 is too complicated for newcomers. I have hired quite a few complete newbies in my time here. Have you seen any manager whose driver raced for Pegaso say that? Once again, I can't answer that question for them, but I am 99% sure they would say it is not. And that is why this series of articles is called "Formula 1 is a team sport".

Except for Red Bull, no team at the moment is properly manageable by only one person. And to reach their privileged position, Red Bull needed the effort of many more people back in the day.

I am Pegaso's public face, and that means I handle most of the team's matters. But having our current staff is thanks to all of our shareholders, of whom I would like to highlight Massgarre and Miki1972. Having good race data is thanks to all of our drivers since season 50. Understanding it properly is thanks to Thisken and Keiyote. And to have the most voting points in each of the last 12 seasons is thanks to all of our fans.

So if I were asked, "what is your opinion on the latest Formula 1 changes?"... I would say that Pegaso doesn't fear them, is more than willing to discover their effects, and considers them an opportunity to finally become a top team. And then, at some point in a few seasons, we will look back, extract our conclusions and say if they were beneficial or not for the category.

There will always be someone who complains, and this is something we have to live with. So, to conclude, and summing up, after reading those complaints, my answer is that they should start to understand Formula 1 as a team sport. Perhaps when they do, they will stop blaming others for their own deficiencies.