Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Formula 1 has decided not to go ahead with a post-season race which would be contested solely by rookie drivers.
For several months there had been talks of utilising the time when F1’s young driver test takes place at Yas Marina Circuit to instead run a race which would only be open to the drivers eligible for that test.
During Wednesday’s F1 Commission meeting, the decision was made that the world championship would “not to go ahead with the proposed event this year, but instead to look at whether such a race was possible in 2025”.
The reason given was “while the concept received widespread support, it was determined that due to timing and organisational constraints, the event would not take place in 2024”.
Formula 2 drivers would have likely filled many of the places on the grid for such a race had it gone ahead, and several of them spoke to media including Formula Scout about the prospect of it happening prior to the commission’s decision.
“I think any race, we would love to do as a racing driver. Of course, when you get the call up in anything, if I’m driving a Formula 3 car [or] a Formula 4 car tomorrow, I’m going do the best job I can. So I think we’re all ready to jump in and drive a F1 car for sure,” said Sauber junior Zane Maloney, who is Formula E-bound next year.
His title rival Isack Hadjar, a Red Bull junior, noted “obviously if I get to drive the Red Bull [then I am] having a big, big advantage, I think” in putting himself in contention for a 2025 F1 seat at the brand’s secondary RB team. He added: “but I wouldn’t like to be the mechanics, that’s for sure”.
Paul Aron, who is now without affiliation to any F1 teams after previously being a Mercedes-AMG junior, provided the most detailed answer when asked for his thoughts on a ‘rookie race’.
“That would be great. But I think, if there’s drivers who don’t have previous mileage in an F1 car, throwing them into a race is, it’s definitely interesting. So I think it would be a great idea if there’s a bit of track time, at least – I don’t know – one day of testing and then the race. But any driver you ask. if you give them a chance to drive an F1 car, no matter what format, if it’s a test, a race, a practice, everyone will take it. So whatever it is, if it’s more mileage, it’s very much welcome. And I think for the spectators, it will be really fun, but for the mechanics, maybe not so fun.”