All Components 1 groups are supporting a plan to rearrange a post-season race for rookie drivers in Abu Dhabi, says Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff.
The intention behind the proposal is to offer junior drivers extra alternatives to show their potential. Wolff mentioned it could not be possible to carry such a race earlier within the season as a result of any accident harm incurred may have an effect on the world championship.
“We mentioned it within the F1 Fee and I believe we’re eager in giving rookie drivers extra alternative,” he mentioned.
“The stretch is that in the event you give it to them on a grand prix race weekend, it’s going to impression the principle drivers, or it may impression the principle drivers’ performances. Should you allow them to race on a major weekend, it may affect the race end result, which might be fairly damaging in the event you’re preventing for a championship.
“We didn’t discover one other approach of letting them undergo this entire sequence of a race weekend, pushing within the automotive, having the ability to make comparisons. With a day of racing in Abu Dhabi, they’re all going to be on the identical gasoline [loads], they’re all going to be on the identical tyre and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how they evaluate in these respective automobiles. And the season is completed.”
He identified including an additional race to the 30 held throughout a season – together with dash occasions – will put but extra demand on groups’ workers.
“It’s going to be a pressure for the group, clearly, as a result of now we have one other day [of running],” he mentioned. “However we’re within the leisure business and that’s the very best thought to date that now we have come as much as give them extra driving time.”
Advert | Turn out to be a RaceFans supporter and
Every group has one vote on the F1 Fee, whereas FOM and the FIA have 10 votes every. Wolff mentioned “there was nobody within the room that didn’t help the thought as a result of now we have all the identical aims.
“We need to give them extra publicity, we need to give them working time and that’s the place we landed.”
Since 2022, F1 groups have been required to run drivers who’ve began fewer than three Components 1 races in a minimum of two observe classes per 12 months. Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur sees little scope to broaden that programme.
“We have been pondering to offer them the chance to do extra [first practice sessions], however they’re doing already 14 [rounds] in F2. On the highest of this, now we have the dash races the place you may’t give [up] the FP1.
“Plus at some tracks, it’s not simple. We’ll by no means surrender FP1 in Singapore or Monaco or Baku. It implies that on the finish of the day, we don’t have so many alternatives to offer them the chance to check the automotive in the true situation and out of doors of the [testing of previous cars] system.
“I believe this chance might be a superb one to additionally give them the total weekend with a free observe, quali and begin. For certain it’s not simple to organise and so forth, however I’m supportive.”
Advert | Turn out to be a RaceFans supporter and
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a every day e mail with all our newest tales – and nothing else. No advertising, no adverts. Enroll right here:
