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Mentorship Program 2025
When today helps tomorrow
The FIA and the GPDA are excited to announce the official longue of the new Grid Mentorship Program for the 2025 season. The goal of this program is to help the new drivers – commonly named rookies – settle in correctly in the big family that the grid is. To reach that goal, each rookie will be assigned two mentors amongst the reasonably experienced drivers. It will be the mentors’ responsibility to ensure that their designated rookie gets a happy, safe and successful start to his life on the grid!
*The participation to the mentorship program is not optional. Every driver chosen to be a mentor must take an active role as such, or he will face consequences.
Objective:
Every driver remembers how being new on the grid is not an easy thing. Everything is new, the other drivers already know each other and you are desperate to prove you deserve your spot. It is a stressing time.
The objective of this program is to make this stressing time easier for everyone. The mentors will be in charge of showing the ropes to their rookie. They will make sure their rookie feels welcome on the grid, is integrated in the group. They will answer any questions the rookie have, be by their side during difficult times and be a constant emotional support. They will ensure their rookie does not make avoidable mistakes and help them through any crisis they could face.
Incentives:
As some drivers could be inclined not to take an active part in this program, the FIA and the GPDA have made sure to put in place incentives for them.
Any mentors who would prove they have fulfilled their function correctly will have their mandatory media-time significantly diminished. Proofs of the fulfilment will need to be submitted every Wednesday of every race weeks. If the efforts made by the mentors are deemed sufficient, they will see their media duties cut down for the following day.
On the contrary, any mentors that will refuse to take part in the program or make too little efforts will be penalized with additional media duties. If no efforts were made following that, others discipline measures will be taken by the FIA.
Attributions:
The following attributions have been made. They are not up for discussion.
- Antonelli (12) – M. Verstappen (1) & E. Ocon (31)
- Bearman (87) – C. Leclerc (16) & L. Norris (4)
- Hadjar (6) – O. Piastri (81) & A. Albon (23)
- Bortoleto (5) – C. Sainz (55) & P. Gasly (10)
- Doohan (7) – G. Russel (63) & L. Stroll (18)
The mentors will contact their designated rookie as soon as possible. They will make sure that their designated rookie can contact them.
For any questions regarding this program, please contact Sebastian Vettel.
Grid Mentors
Seb has created the group chat and added +10 people.
Max: This better be a joke, Seb!
Lando: Honestly, Carlos, I thought that getting you in the GPDA would mean no bullshit like that!
Carlos: I am not responsible for that
George: Carlos is right. I didn’t even signed off on this
Charles: How can this be GPDA approved if neither of you have signed off on it?
Seb: Because I did before I left
Seb: Thought it would be a good goodbye gift
Max: Seriously, Seb, this is not funny
Lando: Yes, you had us. Now, confirm this is just a joke
Seb: This is not a joke. I designed this program myself
Max: …
Charles: Why did you do that?!
Lando: We were nice to you. Made you a goodbye party and everything
Seb: Because I saw each and every one of you be rookie on the grid
Seb: You were all disastrous
Seb: This is to make sure that the next ones are not as bad as you
Oscar: You didn’t seen me as a rookie. I wasn’t disastrous. I shouldn’t be in this
Seb: You were the centrepiece of a media scandal before you even got on the grid. You were the worst one
Pierre: What about Yuki?
Alex: And Fernando, Lewis, Nico and Liam. Why were they exempt of this?
Seb: Fernando, Lewis and Nico have been exempted due to seniority. Liam was exempted as he is basically a rookie himself
Pierre: I am repeating myself but what about Yuki?
Seb: After careful consideration, it was decided that it was better to have Oscar than Yuki to take the last mentor’s spot
Oscar: Lucky me…
Max: It is my eleventh season. I need an exemption as well
Seb: No
Este: Who made the attributions?
Seb: I did. I thought it would be good to have you guys mixing a bit as well
Max: I hate you Seb
Seb: Do not forget to contact your rookie asap
Seb: It would be sad to already have a penalty… I know how much you guys love media
Lando: Karma is not going to forgive you, Vettel
Little Bros
Seb had created the group “2025 Rookies” and added +5 people
Ollie renamed the group “Little Bros”
Seb: Did you guys read the document I sent? Do you have questions?
Isack: Can we call our mentors “daddies”?
Kimi: What if our daddies do not like each other?
Ollie: That is ok, Kimi. Sometimes parents do not like each other but it is not the fault of the kid
Gabi: You guys are crazy
Ollie: Careful or I tell my daddies you were mean
Jack: George has already sent me five messages, I don’t know what I am supposed to do
Kimi: My daddies have not sent me anything yet!
Isack: Maybe they don’t like you
Kimi: Daddies always love their kid!
Seb: Glad to see that you guys appreciate the program!
Isack: Can we call you Grandpa?
Seb: No
Ollie has renamed Seb Grandpa
Grandpa: Lando did speak about karma…