Who Holds the Key to Formula 1's Future?

Never before has a Formula 1 Grand Prix grid been so full of young blood and future hopefuls. Potential stars of the future have arrived in mass quantity, all of whom are eager to make their names in the dog-eat-dog world of Formula 1 racing.

Be it Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica, Sebastien Vettel, Nico Rosberg or Nelson Piquet Jr., young talent can be found across the grid, with dozens more names letting themselves be known in the lower formulas.

The next few years of Formula 1 are shaping out to become the most exciting on record. But who will make the cut in such a challenging and unforgiving environment?

With so many young faces making their names, it is difficult to remember when the margin between winning and losing has been so slender. It is becoming harder to make it into F1, yet alone to hold onto a drive. So who will make the cut?

Several drivers have already shown they belong in the highest calibre of racing, the obvious examples being Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica, Sebastien Vettel and Nico Rosberg, but while these drivers are flourishing, others are having a somewhat turbulent time of it.

Nelson Piquet Jr. and Timo Glock, for example, have both found it hard to impress their respective teams. With drivers such as Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna knocking on the door, their jobs can only get harder.

Young drivers such as Christian Klien, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed have all learnt the hard way what a ruthless environment Formula 1 racing can be.

Unfortunately many more young drivers look destined to be heading that way as competition for places can only become harder. Who will be next to make the cut?

Grosjean, Senna, Alvaro Parente and Lucas Di Grassi have already impressed in the GP2 world series, making them destined to land a Formula 1 drive in the next few seasons. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg and Edoardo Mortara are making themselves heard in the F3 Euro-series.

At the same time, drivers from the IRL may be hoping to make the cut to Formula 1. Drivers such as Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, and Scott Dixon all seem to have the speed to be able to fend for themselves. With so much talent in the waiting, the future for Formula 1 looks very bright.

Fans are bound to see great battles, rivalries and champions in the not-so-distant future, the only question is with so many aspirants, who will make the cut?