Forward of the System 1 Italian Grand Prix, a number of workforce 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 an extended yr.
Now, a number of extra workforce bosses are occurring the file in favor of such an occasion.
At Friday’s FIA Press Convention forward of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix three extra workforce 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 System 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 few of the rookie checks 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 this can be a non-championship race for the junior drivers. I feel it’s a improbable alternative and I feel that it comes on the finish of a busy season, however opposed to simply operating round burning gasoline and tires and solely the groups which are operating these drivers realizing whether or not they’re doing a great 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 improbable,” continued Horner. “And I feel it’ll be a extremely fashionable 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 assist to the thought.
“Yeah, I feel it’s nice,” mentioned Komatsu. “, the post-season check, if we don’t do issues like that, you might be simply doing the tire check. So I feel it provides worth to the day and makes it extra thrilling and one other alternative to place younger drivers within the automotive. As of late, it’s such a uncommon alternative for younger drivers to get within the present System 1 automotive. 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 vital to provide the rookies extra alternatives, to point out them. We all know how a lot it’s troublesome to get into System 1, so I feel that FP1 periods are usually not adequate to showcase what you are able to do. and there are a whole lot of dangers linked to correct efficiency in FP1 additionally for the workforce,” mentioned Alunni Bravi. “This can be 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 affix the grid, as Gabriel Bortoleto has emerged as a powerful 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 probably be driving alongside Yuki Tsunoda subsequent season.
However this proposed rookie race would possibly assist open the door for some new faces within the years to return.