Why back runners are important in formula one racing?

Answer 1

Back-runners are important in Formula One racing because, they are the teams that produce the next generation talent in racing. The top teams like Ferrari or McLaren or Red Bull do not give their racing seats to rookies. They always sign-up only the top drivers. The smaller teams however cannot afford the services of the top drivers because of the cost factor and hence hire up and coming drivers. These new drivers are given the opportunity to prove themselves and in a few seasons, the really talented ones are absorbed by the bigger teams. Most of the great drivers in the current season all started out in the back-runner teams. Ex: Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel etc.