McConnell praises Powell’s maturity
Published:Wednesday | May 10, 2023 | 1:37 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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THE CONTINUED progression of Jamaican driver Alex Powell has compatriot and Rallycross driver Fraser McConnell excited at the prospect of him earning a seat in Formula One in the near future. McConnell, who is in the middle of his Extreme E series...
THE CONTINUED progression of Jamaican driver Alex Powell has compatriot and Rallycross driver Fraser McConnell excited at the prospect of him earning a seat in Formula One in the near future.
McConnell, who is in the middle of his Extreme E series season, took a break last weekend to observe the Miami Grand Prix, the first American stop of this year’s Formula One season. McConnell is a member of X44 Vida Carbon Racing, the team owned by seven-time world Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton.
Powell has been a part of the Mercedes team since 2019 and has had a strong start to this season. He claimed his first podium finish of the year in the first round of the Champions of the Future series in March and last month claimed victory in the first round of the European Championships in Spain.
What has McConnell impressed is the maturity that Powell has displayed when it comes to work ethic and drive to succeed.
“I am really loving what Alex is doing. He is a very talented youth. And if you have a conversation with him you wouldn’t think that he is 16 years old,” said McConnell. “Very well spoken. He has his head screwed on. I think he is going places for sure. He has the right support and the sky is the limit.”
It has been a steady climb for Powell in the four years that he has been a part of the Mercedes camp and with each milestone ticked, McConnell has become more optimistic about Powell.
“When you are that young and that talented and have succeeded so much at a young age, the confidence you get and the background knowledge and experience that you get is priceless. So he is shooting for the stars,” Powell said.
Although McConnell said that the opportunity to drive in Formula One is something that any driver would relish, he is focused on his season so far with Vida Carbon, the defending Extreme E champions, who are currently in fourth place in the championship after two rounds.
McConnell will be back in action this weekend, in the third and fourth rounds of the Extreme E series at the Hydro X-Prix in Scotland.