Formula 1 is a unique sport where there are only 20 drivers in the world that participate. So these drivers have to be the best of the best. While this causes excellent racing on the track, it does not give all the younger drivers a taste to go racing in the F1 car. But now, all that could change as the F1 teams are interested in organizing a race after the season is concluded.
F1 Teams are always on the lookout for young talent in Formula 2 and Formula 3. While there are over 20 drivers in Formula 2 every year, there are only a couple of them that graduate to Formula 1. Some years, none of them do.
Debut 🔜@CMansell_Racing, @MiniGabriele and @LukeBrown1ng all join us on the grid this weekend, fresh from that fantastic @Formula3 season finale! #F2 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/VAXNuH2bCf
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 12, 2024
But sometimes even the drivers who do make it to F1 are unable to cope with the advanced technology in the F1 cars. Hence, they tend to disappoint their teams.
In the past years, F1 usually conducts a young driver’s test. The teams can choose a rookie driver who will test their F1 car in test sessions. But now, F1 teams have come up with a new format that is very exciting. This new format will give younger drivers the opportunity to shine in F1 cars during a race.
Formula 2 drivers to receive opportunity to race in F1 cars
F1 Teams have supported an idea that involves a Sprint Race after the official F1 season has concluded. While Formula 1 cars will be used in the race, none of the existing F1 drivers will be allowed to drive. Instead, the teams will have to choose 1 F2 driver to drive during the race.
This will be an opportunity for the F2 drivers to showcase what they can do in an F1 car. It will also be an opportunity for Formula 1 teams to analyze their academy drivers and get useful data on their performance.
Talking about this potential race, Christian Horner said:
“I think mainly adopting sprint regs and so on it’s eminently doable,” he said. “It doesn’t need to be overly complicated. It’s just going to be a single car from each team rather than two cars.”
“[…] So I think the event will take place all in one day: Qualifying and then you put on another sprint race.”
Bad news came in twos for Campos…
Teammates Isack Hadjar and Pepe Marti’s Qualifying came to an end with similar incidents at the same corner, just seconds apart! 😳#F2 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/jzThiJapLW
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 13, 2024
Horner is proposing a single race where each team will run only 1 car. The format would be the usual sprint format where the qualifying sessions and the race all take place in a single day.
If this comes to fruition, it will be extremely exciting for the F2 drivers. The teams will obviously have to stay to work for another day after a long and tiring season. But the data collected on their rookies will be very useful.
Do you think Formula 1 should host an unofficial Formula 1 race with only rookies on the grid? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
