P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff, Fred Vasseur and Peter Bayer have all voiced their support for a Formula 1 rookie Sprint race at the end of the 2024 campaign at Abu Dhabi. With limited testing in F1, rookies have little chance to test themselves in a Grand Prix machine. The Testing of Previous Car Programme permits unlimited mileage […]
Rookies in F1 have limited opportunities to test themselves due to restricted testing. The Testing of Previous Car Programme allows unlimited mileage in 2022 machines, with each F1 team required to run a rookie in at least two Free Practice 1 sessions. The lack of testing chances at the highest level before a full-time F1 drive poses a challenge, given the limited number of available seats. Considering this, the idea of a Sprint race format for rookies was discussed during a post-season Abu Dhabi test. The proposal aims to provide rookie drivers with more driving time and exposure in the sport. Despite the logistical challenges, team bosses like Mercedes’ Wolff and Alfa Romeo’s Vasseur are supportive of the concept to help talented drivers progress through the single-seater pyramid and secure F1 seats. Red Bull CEO Bayer highlighted the talent bottleneck in F1 due to the limited number of seats, suggesting that initiatives like the Sprint race format could offer promising drivers better opportunities to showcase their skills and secure race seats in the future.
