The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen 482 - When Will We Have A Vietnamese F1 Driver? - Owen Tangavelou Nguyen
Mar 23, 2026
Nguyễn Owen Tangavelou, a French-Vietnamese Formula 3 racer aiming to be the first Vietnamese in F1. He talks about starting karting late at 14, the brutal costs and sponsor hunt behind climbing F4–F3–F1, the physical demands and real G-forces of single-seaters, and how national pride and Vietnamese backing could change motorsport’s landscape.
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Budget Reality For An F3 Season
- Budget for an F3 season is roughly €1.5 million, which pays teams, travel, engineers and mechanics.
- Scholarships exist but are small; investors expect returns only if a driver reaches F1 or equivalent paid series.
Investors Buy Marketing Now And ROI Later
- Investors get marketing exposure immediately via logos, broadcasts and games, but financial ROI typically arrives only if the driver reaches Formula 1 or IndyCar.
- Owen frames national backing as a route—countries sponsor drivers to gain national prestige.
Countries Back Drivers For National Prestige
- Owen notes Argentina and Paraguay actively back drivers to bring national representation to top series, citing Franco Colapinto and a Paraguayan F2 driver.
- He argues a first national F1 driver brings prestige and market impact for that country.