F1 postpones the idea of a race reserved for rookies this end of the 2024 season

Beginner drivers will have to wait at least another year before being able to have their own race. While discussions seemed to be progressing positively regarding the organization of a sprint race reserved for rookies (drivers who have done two Grand Prix races or less in Formula 1) following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as a replacement for the traditional end-of-season tests organized by Pirelli, F1 and the FIA have ultimately abandoned this proposal. This decision is even more surprising as the project, proposed last July, had received strong support from all team managers, who had agreed to hold this race at the end of this season. Unfortunately, it will not happen this year, as F1 believes it would need to resolve too many logistical issues in too short a time.

Logistics impossible to establish by the end of the year.

As a reminder, this race was supposed to take place on the Tuesday following the final round in Abu Dhabi and represented a distance of about 100 km, in which 10 cars, one for each team, were supposed to battle on the track for victory with only beginner drivers in these single-seaters, giving them a solid experience. It would have been preceded by a single free practice session and a qualifying session, a way to make them experience an almost full Grand Prix weekend.

However, this Wednesday, during the F1 Commission held at the Racing Bulls team headquarters in Faenza, the project was disapproved. The FIA and FOM deemed it not feasible to organize this race as early as 2024 due to the various issues to be resolved, especially the choice of tires to be used, the logistical and human impact it could have, as well as its consequences on the budget cap. Too many unanswered questions forced the Commission to delay this race.

« The concept of a “beginner’s race” to be added to the 2024 end-of-season tests program in Abu Dhabi was discussed », explains the report of the commission meeting. « Although the concept received broad support, it was decided that, for scheduling and organizational reasons, the event would not take place in 2024, and discussions will continue to formulate a potential concept and plan for 2025. »

This announcement is bad news for beginner drivers who were hoping to have their chance in a race situation. An opportunity they seemed to have this year, since the project was still on track a few days ago, and the ten teams had once again validated this proposal during the weekend in Azerbaijan.

A missed opportunity for some young pilots

Among the drivers concerned, we notably find Isack Hadjar, who was supposed to take Max Verstappen’s place at Red Bull, according to Helmut Marko’s words. At McLaren, priority would have been given to their young driver Gabriel Bortoleto, leader of Formula 2. Oliver Bearman would have once again driven for Haas, while the young Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli would have climbed into the Mercedes.

However, Formula 1 has not completely abandoned the project, on the contrary, as it plans to include it for 2025, where it will have much more time to prepare. Therefore, December 10 will be, as usual, a day entirely dedicated to Pirelli tests, where the regular drivers, some in their new cars, like Carlos Sainz, will be able to complete as many laps as possible to get used to the new 2025 tires.