F1 team bosses voice support for latest radical race idea

Multiple F1 team principals have backed the proposal to introduce a sprint race for rookie drivers.

In a bid to boost on-track time in up-to-date machinery for junior prospects, a plan to host a sprint race at the post-season test from Abu Dhabi is under discussion.

Testing opportunities have been slashed in recent years as a cost-saving measure, with the post-season test and FP1 sessions the only opportunity rookie drivers have to experience current F1 challengers.

Toto Wolff, the team principal at Mercedes which will field rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli next season, has backed the idea.

“We discussed it in the F1 Commission and I think we're keen on giving rookie drivers more opportunity,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“The stretch is that if you give it to them on a Grand Prix race weekend, it's going to impact the main drivers, or it could impact the main drivers' performances.

“If you let them race on a main weekend, it could influence the race result, which could be pretty damaging if you're fighting for a championship.

“So we didn't find another way of letting them go through this whole sequence of a race weekend, pushing the car, being able to make comparisons.”

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur also expressed support for the idea but conceded there would be logistical issues to navigate.

“With the current regulation and the three days of testing that you have during the winter, it's not easy to give them mileage,” Vasseur said.

“On top, we were thinking to give them the opportunity to do more FP1, but they are already doing 14 races in F2.

“On top of this, we have the Sprint races where you can't give the FP1. Plus some tracks, it's not easy.

“We will never give up the FP1 in Singapore, Monaco or Baku. It means that at the end of the day, we don't have so many opportunities to give them the opportunity to test the car in real conditions and outside of the TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] system.

“And I think this opportunity could be a good one to also give them the full weekend with a free practice, quali and start. It's not easy to organise, but I'm supportive."

Wolff added that “there was no one in the room that didn't support the idea because we have all the same objectives” as RB CEO Peter Bayer highlighted an added advantage to the plan.

“I think if you see today how well the single-seater pyramid is working from karting, Formula 4, 3, 2, how much talent is coming up,” Bayer said.

“And obviously at the top, there's only 20 seats, so it's quite complex for these guys to show their skills. Sometimes there's an accident, like last week, and then they get five minutes time to run.

“So I think it would be great also because you know we would reach out to the younger fan base which is something that you know we're keen to do and overall we would be certainly supportive.”