Experience comes at the price of youth.

Not so long ago, youth was a valuable asset for Formula 1 drivers, but today, teams favor experienced drivers who are better able to take advantage of expensive new technologies.

Is youth always an advantage in Formula 1? Max Verstappen would answer yes without hesitation. The Dutch driver made a sensational entry into the world of F1 at the age of 18, bypassing the usual apprenticeship to rise directly to the top. However, not all young people share this optimism. Take Kevin Magnussen, who spent several years at the McLaren academy. In 2014, he had a respectable rookie season, securing a podium finish on his first race weekend and bringing home valuable points for a team struggling with a difficult car to drive. At the end of the season, McLaren turned to 34-year-old Fernando Alonso, sidelining the 23-year-old Dane from the team. Facing 35-year-old veteran Jenson Button, Magnussen was unable to compete, and the team preferred experience over youth in preparation for the challenges of the upcoming Honda hybrid engine. A similar pattern emerged at the brand new Haas team, which was set to make its debut in 2016. With a long list of candidates, Gene Haas chose the experienced 29-year-old driver Romain Grosjean to lead the project rather than betting on a rookie. According to rumors, Lotus/Renault is also favoring an experienced driver to replace Grosjean, ruling out hopefuls such as Britain's Jolyon Palmer, who has been racking up laps in Friday practice sessions since last season. Drivers such as Felipe Massa, Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg, and Kimi Raikkonen would all agree. As the sport becomes increasingly technologically sophisticated and drivers must demonstrate a keen sense of management in addition to raw speed, the landscape is changing. Yet established drivers—Verstappen, Felipe Nasr, Carlos Sainz Jr., and others—must still reckon with the fact that seasoned veterans will continue to shape the future of Formula 1.