Speaking at the recent Italian Grand Prix, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said a project is on the table for F1 to organise a rookie sprint race at the post-season Abu Dhabi test.
Our F1 writers weigh up the practicalities of the proposal.
Jonathan Noble – The idea’s practical issues are not insurmountable
When talk of a rookie sprint race after the Abu Dhabi test first popped up, it seemed to be one of those left-field ideas that would get short-shrift from everyone.
Like reverse grids for grands prix, wildcard entries to replace the current stars, or sprinklers to randomly soak tracks, there have been plenty of wacky proposals over the years that pop up, get discussed and then quickly fall away.
But as the details of the rookie sprint idea have been digested by paddock regulars and team bosses, it is clear that the concept has some merit, even if there are complications to overcome.
The basic premise is simple: get the 10 rookie drivers who will be taking part in the post-Abu Dhabi GP test on the Tuesday after the season finale, give them a qualifying session halfway through the day and then put on a sprint race in the late evening.
Franco Colapinto, Williams FW45
Photo by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Images
The advantage will be, in this era of very restrictive testing, of giving the youngsters some valuable experience of both a low-fuel run and then a race-stint style distance to better understand both battling wheel-to-wheel with other cars and how tyres behave over long stints.
There are some challenges in making it happen though, including framing suitable regulations, the question of extra personnel/costs that teams may need, the increased risks of car damage, the FIA infrastructure needed to police and run it and then the issue of how it is broadcast – and what impact that has on current F1 channels.
While not easy to tick all those elements off (and perhaps it is too much of a stretch to get things sorted for this year), none of it is insurmountable. Like everything in life, if there is a will there is a way.
With teams clearly motivated to bring on the next generation of drivers and accepting that the current two FP1 sessions rookies can get is probably not enough, that there seems to be unanimous support from teams to find a solution probably means it will get across the line in the end. And it is something that should be embraced.
As Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “It’s going to be a strain for the team,…
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