Forward of the Components 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 12 months.
Now, a couple of extra crew 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 crew principals got here out in favor of the thought, 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 Components 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 assessments is all of them get used for testing. You by no means know, are they operating on 50 kilos, 70 kilos, 30 kilos of gasoline? What engine mode are they going? You don’t actually know. You don’t understand how the opposition are doing.
“So I feel it is a non-championship race for the junior drivers. I feel it’s a unbelievable alternative and I feel that it comes on the finish of a busy season, however opposed to only operating round burning gasoline and tires and solely the groups which might be operating these drivers understanding whether or not they’re doing an excellent job or to not give doubtlessly ten drivers or ten rookies the chance of leaping within the present automobiles and having the equal of a Dash race, I feel is unbelievable,” continued Horner. “And I feel it’ll be a extremely widespread occasion.”
Haas Workforce Principal Ayao Komatsu — who’s overseeing younger Oliver Bearman’s drive instead of 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,” stated 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 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 Components 1 automobile. So I feel it’s actually an attention-grabbing transfer.”
Sauber Workforce Consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi joined within the refrain. “I totally agree with Ayao. It’s essential to provide the rookies extra alternatives, to point out them. We all know how a lot it’s tough to get into Components 1, so I feel that FP1 classes should not enough to showcase what you are able to do. and there are loads of dangers linked to correct efficiency in FP1 additionally for the crew,” stated 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 hitch 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 Workforce, as they haven’t but introduced who will likely 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 return.
