Forward of the Method 1 Italian Grand Prix, a number of workforce 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 an extended 12 months.
Now, a couple of extra workforce bosses are occurring the document in favor of such an occasion.
At Friday’s FIA Press Convention forward of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix three extra workforce principals got here out in favor of the concept, together with Purple Bull boss Christian Horner. Requested concerning 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 Method 1 Commissions as a result of I believe it’s nice for the younger drivers,” started Horner. “And I believe that the issue with a few 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 know the way the opposition are doing.
“So I believe it is a non-championship race for the junior drivers. I believe it’s a implausible alternative and I believe 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 might be operating these drivers realizing whether or not they’re doing a great 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 believe is implausible,” continued Horner. “And I believe it’ll be a very standard occasion.”
Haas Staff 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 concept.
“Yeah, I believe it’s nice,” mentioned Komatsu. “You recognize, the post-season take a look at, if we don’t do issues like that, you might be simply doing the tire take a look at. So I believe it provides worth to the day and makes it extra thrilling and one other alternative to place younger drivers within the automobile. Lately, it’s such a uncommon alternative for younger drivers to get within the present Method 1 automobile. So I believe it’s actually an attention-grabbing transfer.”
Sauber Staff Consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi joined within the refrain. “I absolutely agree with Ayao. It’s essential to offer the rookies extra alternatives, to indicate them. We all know how a lot it’s tough to get into Method 1, so I believe that FP1 periods 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 workforce,” mentioned Alunni Bravi. “It is 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’s 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 concept of Liam Lawson sliding right into a seat at Visa Money App RB F1 Staff, as they haven’t but introduced who will probably be driving alongside Yuki Tsunoda subsequent season.
However this proposed rookie race may assist open the door for some new faces within the years to come back.
