For the past few weeks, there has been a lot of support from the F1 teams for a Rookie Race which would replace the Young Drivers’ Test after the Abu Dhabi GP. The F1 community were hoping that the rookie race would debut this year. However, the FIA has confirmed that it will not.
The Rookie Race is basically a race in which only Formula 2 Drivers will be allowed to participate. Drivers who have taken part in a full Formula 1 season would not be eligible for this race. This allows the F2 drivers to showcase their ability to drive the F1 car in a realistic race scenario. The FIA recently held a meeting with the F1 Commission and came to a solution.
FIA confirms F1 Rookie Race will NOT take place in 2024
After the Rookie Race received widespread support from the F1 teams and the entire F1 community, the FIA met with the F1 Commission at the VCARB headquarters in Faenza. Here they concluded that the Rookie Race will not take place this year, but plans will continue to host it next year. Here’s what the FIA said:
“while the concept received widespread support, it was determined that due to timing and organizational constraints, the event would not take place in 2024, and discussions will continue to formulate a potential concept and plan for 2025.”
🚨 | F1 teams look set to give the go-ahead to plans for a rookie sprint race after the Abu Dhabi season finale
The outline plan for the Tuesday after Abu Dhabi is fitted around the regular Pirelli test element to the day for a short qualifying session and then a sprint race… pic.twitter.com/kzU86hcbGM
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 22, 2024
Given that there are only 6 more race weekends left this season, the FIA and F1 will not be able to successfully organize a new event. It will be more plausible to host the same next year.
Given that the Rookie Race has received support from pretty much all parties, it is something that the FIA and F1 will get done. But just not this year.
What are the rules for the Rookies-only Race?
Given that the FIA and F1 still have to formulate a plan, there are no confirmed rules and regulations for the Rookie Race. However, the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner gave his thoughts on how the race should be organized.
“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.”
⚠️ | Teams have shown positive support for an All Rookie Sprint Race at the end of the season in Abu Dhabi.
When asked about it 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.…
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 13, 2024
Each team will be allowed to enter with 1 car. This means 10 rookies every year will be given the chance to race in a Formula 1 car. The format will be similar to the Sprint Race where both the qualifying and the race will take place on the same day. Unlike the full race which lasts for 90 minutes, the Rookie Race will run 30% of the full race-distance for F1. Of course, as mentioned above, only rookies will be allowed to take part.
With these rules, all the teams will be allowed to test their academy drivers and gather data. In addition, the rookies will also get the opportunity to showcase their talent.
Do you think the Rookie Race will be a success next year? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
