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Aug.30 (GMM) Formula 1 teams seem to be in favor of a bold proposal for a rookie-only sprint race to take place after the 2024 season finale.
The sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali revealed this week that F1 is looking to make the traditional post-finale test in Abu Dhabi more of a spectacle.
“Perhaps we will do a sprint race for young people,” said the Italian.
Now that the Formula 1 world has gathered at Monza for the Italian GP, the details of the idea are starting to come to light.
It is rumored that the rookies would have one practice and qualifying session each, followed by a mini-grand prix in the evening after the usual test day is over.
Teams will have two cars each in Abu Dhabi, but the sprint race may be limited to just one driver per team – resulting in a 10-car grid. “A race with 20 cars would require extra planning,” Aston Martin team manager Andy Stevenson told Auto Motor und Sport.
“A race with 20 cars wouldn’t be feasible until at least 2025,” he added, noting that having 20 young drivers with super licenses is currently too ambitious.
It is believed that teams are also requesting additional funds from the Domenicali-led Formula One Management for the rookie sprint – or a modification to the budget cap.
Money may also need to be allocated for TV broadcasters, as “without media interest, a race like this wouldn’t make much sense,” said Sauber sporting director Beat Zehnder.
Haas boss Ayao Komatsu also remarked: “We all have to stay in Abu Dhabi anyway due to the tire test.
“The winners would likely prefer to celebrate and the losers would probably want to go home as soon as possible, but an extra race for the rookies would be a challenge for everyone and make it worthwhile to stay behind,” said the Japanese.
Team bosses will gather in Geneva next Wednesday to further discuss the idea, preceding a subsequent e-vote process.
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