Autosport's 'new generation of F1' list from 2006 re-emerges online and makes for fascinating reading
A 2006 list from popular motorsport magazine Autosport predicting the future greats of Formula One have re-emerged and it is fascinating.
Formula One appears to have entered a new era this season as the days of dominance from Mercedes or Red Bull look like they may be over, giving way to a much more competitive grid.
In recent years, various publications have attempted to predict which drives and teams would emerge as the standout performers in each era.
Recently, a list made by Autosport over 20 years ago predicting the next generation of Formula One re-surfaced, and it is certainly an interesting read.
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For a list made in August 2006, Autosport did quite well with their predictions, but who made the list and where are they now?
Lewis Hamilton
It comes as no surprise that Hamilton was included on the list of the top four drivers who would make up the new generation of F1.
Labelled by Autosport at "McLaren's golden boy", Hamilton was clearly one of the most exciting talents in the sport at the time.
In August 2006, the then 21-year-old was leading the 2006 GP2 Championship in Formula 2 having won the Formula 3 championship the season before.
He then went on would to win the 2006 GP2 Championship that year and was given a seat in F1 the year later.
Hamilton continues to race in Formula One and has established himself as one of, if not the, greatest drivers of all time, equaling Michael Schumacher's record of seven Formula One Drivers World Championship titles.
Overall, across 350 races, Hamilton has won an impressive 105 and achieved a podium finish in 201.
Nico Rosberg
Next on Autosport's list was Hamilton's future teammate Rosberg, who they described as Williams' great hope.
At the time the article was published, Rosberg was already driving in F1 at Williams having won the 2005 GP2 Championship the year before.
Racing alongside Mark Webber, he achieved four points in his debut season, while Webber scored seven.
Rosberg continued to impress at Williams but ultimately left the team to join Mercedes ahead of the 2010 season, where he remained for the rest of his highly successful career.
The peak of the German driver's career came in his final season in the sport as, despite a push from teammate Hamilton, Rosberg won the 2016 Formula One Drivers World Championship title.
In total, Rosberg won 23 races from 206 entries and claimed 57 podium finishes and now works as a pundit covering the sport.
Robert Kubica
Described at the time as Jacques Villeneuve's nemesis, Kubica was perhaps the most exciting young talent in Formula One at the time that this article was written.
By August 2006, Kubica had won the 2005 World Series by Renault and served as the reserve driver for BMW Sauber.
At this time, Kubica had already raced once in Formula One as he stood in for an ill Villeneuve for the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Polish driver earned a permanent seat in 2007 with BMW Sauber and claimed his first and only F1 race win at the Canadian Grand Prix in June 2008.
Unfortunately, Kubica was seriously injured in a crash at the Ronde di Andora rally in February 2011, leading to a partial amputation to his forearm and fractures on his right elbow, shoulder and leg.
Although he miraculously returned to Formula One after a long recovery period, Kubica never reached the heights he was expected to in the sport, with many speculating he would have been a champion.
The 39-year-old now races in the FIA World Endurance Championship for AF Corse and recently won the 2023 title.
Heikki Kovalainen
The final name included on Autosport's list was Kovalainen who at the time was was the test driver for Renault F1 having finished second second in the 2005 GP2 Championship behind Rosberg.
In the 2006 article, the Finnish driver was described as Alonso's successor and the following season he did just that as, after Alonso moved to McLaren began racing in Formula One for Renault.
A year later, Alonso returned to Renault and reclaimed his seat, with Kovalainen taking the McLaren seat alongside teammate Hamilton.
As admitted by Kovalainen himself, his lack of confidence appears to be what held him back as he struggled to compete with the impressive Hamilton.
Despite this, Kovalainen claimed one race win at the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, but left the sport in 2013.
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1
Ben McCrum