Forward of the System 1 Italian Grand Prix, a number of crew principals spoke out in favor of a proposed rookie dash race on the finish of the season, giving younger drivers an opportunity to showcase their expertise on the finish of a protracted yr.
Now, a number of extra crew bosses are happening the report in favor of such an occasion.
At Friday’s FIA Press Convention forward of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix three extra crew principals got here out in favor of the thought, together with Pink Bull boss Christian Horner. Requested in regards to the proposed occasion by longtime F1 journalist Adam Cooper, Horner and others gave their backing to the proposal.
“Yeah, it’s one thing that I tabled on the final couple of System 1 Commissions as a result of I feel it’s nice for the younger drivers,” started Horner. “And I feel that the issue with a number of the rookie checks is all of them get used for testing. You by no means know, are they operating on 50 kilos, 70 kilos, 30 kilos of gas? What engine mode are they going? You don’t actually know. You don’t understand how the opposition are doing.
“So I feel this can be a non-championship race for the junior drivers. I feel it’s a improbable alternative and I feel that it comes on the finish of a busy season, however opposed to simply operating round burning gas and tires and solely the groups which can be operating these drivers understanding whether or not they’re doing an excellent job or to not give probably ten drivers or ten rookies the chance of leaping within the present vehicles and having the equal of a Dash race, I feel is improbable,” continued Horner. “And I feel it’ll be a very standard occasion.”
Haas Group Principal Ayao Komatsu — who’s overseeing younger Oliver Bearman’s drive rather than Kevin Magnussen this weekend as he serves a one-race penalty ban — additionally gave his help to the thought.
“Yeah, I feel it’s nice,” mentioned Komatsu. “You already know, the post-season check, if we don’t do issues like that, you’re simply doing the tire check. So I feel it provides worth to the day and makes it extra thrilling and one other alternative to place younger drivers within the automobile. Nowadays, it’s such a uncommon alternative for younger drivers to get within the present System 1 automobile. So I feel it’s actually an attention-grabbing transfer.”
Sauber Group Consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi joined within the refrain. “I absolutely agree with Ayao. It’s necessary to present the rookies extra alternatives, to point out them. We all know how a lot it’s tough to get into System 1, so I feel that FP1 classes should not adequate to showcase what you are able to do. and there are a variety of dangers linked to correct efficiency in FP1 additionally for the crew,” mentioned Alunni Bravi. “This can be a very nice alternative.”
Subsequent season will see a number of new drivers becoming a member of the grid: Bearman at Haas, Jack Doohan at Alpine, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes. There may be additionally potential for a fourth rookie to affix the grid, as Gabriel Bortoleto has emerged as a robust contender for the seat at Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg.
Then there’s the thought of Liam Lawson sliding right into a seat at Visa Money App RB F1 Group, as they haven’t but introduced who shall be driving alongside Yuki Tsunoda subsequent season.
However this proposed rookie race would possibly assist open the door for some new faces within the years to come back.
