As who will win the battle of rookies this year?
Continuing my overview of five promising
drivers. Here’s three who’s fathers were former Formula 1 pilotes.
Eduardo Barrichello
DOB: September 23, 2001, Age: 24
U.S. F2000 National Championship: 2019-2020; Stock Car Pro Series
LMGT3: #23 The Heart of Racing, Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo
Eduardo Barrichello is the older son of
Rubino’, nee Rubens Barrichello, who once held the record for most Grands Prix
starts at 322. Before being surpassed by Kimi Raikkonen.
Rubino’ won 11 Grands Prix, primarily as
Michael Schumacher’s Wingman at Scuderia Ferrari between 2000-2005. Before winning
twice for Brawn GP as Bloody Jense’s (Button) teammate in 2009.
Rubens also contested the 2012 IndyCar Series
alongside friend TK’, aka Tony Kanaan and EJ Viso for KV Racing Technology.
Being named Rookie Of the Year in His lone Indianapolis 500 start, after
finishing 11th.
Just learned that Eduardo’s Mum’ is Silvana
Giaffone Alcide, and that Felipe Giaffone is His uncle, and Alfonso Giaffone is
His second uncle. As many will know that both drivers competed in the
Indianapolis 500 during the Indy Racing League (IRL) era.
As Felipe is best known for being at a Babys R
Us store when getting the call from A. J. Foyt to come and Bump His way into
the field in 2005, bumping Arie Luyendyk Jr out of the race…
As Felipe’s son Nicolas (Eduardo’s cousin) was
the USF Juniors champion in 2023. While Eduardo’s younger brother Fernando is
also a racing driver.
Eduardo sent two seasons in U.S. F2000 National
championship “Road to Indy” Feeder Series with a best finish of runner-up in 2020,
driving for Pabst Racing. With Christian Rasmussen winning the title.
After racing Stock Cars in Brasilia,
Barrichello moved to Sports Cars in 2025. And currently is contesting the full
IMSA SportsCar Championship for Heart of Racing’s Aston Martin team this year.
Along with also competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for
Heart of Racing
“Dudu”, Eduardo’s nickname, will share the No.
23 Aston Martin Vantage with Jonny Adam and Gray Newell.
Guiliano Alesi
DOB: September 20, 1999, Age: 26
Formula 2: 2019-2020; Super formula; Super GT300-Super GT500
LMGT3: #62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx, Mercedes AMG GT3
I have several memories revolving around
Guliano’s father, who I affectionately call “Mean Jean” Alesi here upon No
Fenders.
Recalling His audacity to battle for the lead
of the 1990 Iceberg Grand Prix on the streets of Downtown Phoenix vs. Ayrton
Senna and His championship winning McLaren! As Alesi was driving that evocative
Tyrrell 018, with the first dihedral “High Nose” racecar.
Sending shock waves through Formula 1 when
leading the race, then repassing Senna’s superior McLaren Honda V-10, Eventually
finishing runner-up to Senna with a customer Cosworth DFR V-8.
Along with all of His talent only netting a
lone Formula 1 win at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari. Plus
that Jordan F1 car with 200 boldly emblazoned on it’s sidepods, celebrating
Alesi’s 200th Grand Prix start, which was a big deal Wayback in 2001!
Or being at the 2012 Indianapolis 500, where I
coined the moniker “Mean Jean” when driving that recalcitrant Lotus by Judd
Dallara for Fan force United. Just noticing that being the same year Rubens
Barrichello was racing at Mother Speedway…
Guiliano’s Mum’ is none other than Kumiko Goto,
a Japanese former Model, Actress and Pop singer.
Guiliano joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in
2016, along with Arthur Leclerc, younger brother of Scuderia Ferrari pilote Charles.
For 2019, He contested His rookie FIA formula 2
season for Trident with mediocre results, finishing 15th overall. A switch to
Hwa Racelab the following year did little to advance His career, jumping ship
to MP Motorsport at season’s end and finishing P17 overall.
Guiliano left the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2020,
after a single outing in a Ferrari SF71H.
After finishing runner-up in Super Formula
Lites with four wins, Alesi graduated to Super formula in 2021, winning at Autopolis,
before being dropped during the 2023 season, once again due to poor results.
Alesi subsequently drove in Super GT300 before
moving up to Super GT500
As previously mentioned, Guiliano will share
the No. 62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx entry with Addulla Al-Khalaifi and Julian
Hanses. Being unaware it was Alesi’s Le Mans debut, along with Qatari
Al-Khalaifi and Team Qatar’s.
Lorenzo Patrese
DOB: August 12, 2005, Age: 20
Italian Formula 4: 2020-2021; GT World Challenge Europe, IMSA GT Daytona
LMGT3: #74 Kessel Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo
Lorenzo’s Pop’s is former F1 driver Riccardo
Patrese. Once the Ironman of Formula 1, amassing the most career starts at then
a staggering 256. Before ironically being surpassed by Rubino’.
Lorenzo has the least seat-time of these second
generation drivers in single seaters, debuting at the Mugello round. Then
racing at Monza in the 2020 Italian Formula 4 championship, His debut in single
seaters. Then finished third in the following year’s Italian F4 Rookie cup and
12th overall, before moving onto Sports Cars.
Lorenzo has been contesting the GT World
challenge Europe Endurance and Sprint series since 2022.
Across thoust Gory Puddle, Patrese drove
Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo’s for Cetilar Racing last year, and Conquest Racing this season
in the IMSA GT Daytona (GTD) category.
Lorenzo is also a winning Show Jumping Horse
rider, which He’s done for several years, along with studying International
Business at University.
Lorenzo joins Eduardo and Guiliano making His debut at Circuit de la Sarthe. With co-drivers Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall behind the wheel of the Kessel Racing Ferrari.
