Pato O'Ward could feature alongside F2 stars in F1 rookie race
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A grid full of aspiring Formula 1 drivers was set to go head-to-head around Yas Marina this winter, in an event dubbed the ‘rookie race’.
The concept would see eligible participants of the annual post-season young drivers test in Abu Dhabi take part in a sprint-like event, in which they could demonstrate their skills through on-track battles in F1 machinery.
But plans have now been delayed until at least 2025, after a meeting of the F1 Commission on October 3 2024 decided that more time was needed to ensure the idea’s execution.
In an official statement, the FIA said: “While the concept received widespread support, it was determined that, due to timing and organisational constraints, the event would not take place in 2024, and discussions would continue to formulate a potential concept and plan for 2025.”
The grid could have been likely filled with many current F2 drivers including Red Bull juniors Ayumu Iwasa and Isack Hadjar; McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto; high-flying HiTech driver Paul Aron; as well as F1 rookies-to-be Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman. But promising IndyCar talent in Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta might have also received an invite, as might drivers in F1 reserve roles such as Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire.
But with the event now delayed until at least next year, might other young drivers earn the right to race in what could become a rookie’s best chance to turn heads in the F1 paddock?
Keep scrolling to find out more about F1’s ‘rookie race’.
A grid of Formula 1 cars, filled by the stars of tomorrow
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The ‘rookie race’ would take place in Abu Dhabi as part of the post-season young driver test — in which aspiring F1 talent gets to grips with F1 machinery, sometimes for the first time, two days after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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The latest concept of the idea involved the rookie-filled grid taking part in a race weekend, which would involve one practice session, a shortened three-stage qualifying session and subsequent race. If organisers followed Formula 1’s sprint race format, as has been suggested, the race around Yas Marina would likely be 19 laps long — a third of grand prix distance.
In order to be eligible drivers must not have competed in more than two F1 grands prix, meaning that Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto would not be able to line up alongside their former F2 counterparts (if the event was going ahead this year) having already completed longer stints in an F1 cockpit as reserves.
The rookie race aims to address the general concern that young drivers are given few opportunities behind the wheel of an F1 car and could give them a chance to prove themselves worthy of a full-time seat.
The FIA, F1 team bosses and Liberty Media have agreed that the rookie race concept needs time to develop
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After a meeting of the F1 Commission on October 3 2024 — which is composed of F1 team bosses, the FIA (F1’s governing body) and F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media — it was decided that the rookie race should be delayed until at least 2025, allowing the concept time to develop having only started to gather momentum ahead of the summer break in August.
But even after gaining widespread support, the concept of a rookie race has raised some concerns — particularly on the load imposed on the teams. After enduring through the longest season in Formula 1 history and following back-to-back triple header race weekends — first in the United States, Mexico and Brazil and then in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi — engineers and mechanics would be forced to take part in another competitive race weekend, where the demands on them are higher than in testing.
With a practice session, qualifying and a race difficult to cram into a single day, it’s possible that the rookie race event could take place over two days in order for rookie drivers to prepare properly — further extending team staff’s stint away from home.
There were also concerns surrounding how and if the event would be televised as well as the implications on varying levels of performance. While the junior drivers from Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes would all likely benefit from the heightened performance of each team’s respective car, those driving for Williams, Sauber and Haas could struggle to show pace and potential.
There is currently no guarantee that the rookie race will take place in 2025, with many more details to be discussed.
Sauber junior Zane Maloney relishes the thought of racing a F1 car — as does many others
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The concept of a rookie race has been well received by drivers and teams, who believe it to be a great opportunity for aspiring F1 talent to prove itself on a real-world stage.
During the annual Abu Dhabi young driver test, drivers are often placed in the cockpit for a single afternoon of extended running. Hour-long FP1 sessions are the only other time test and reserve drivers can experience a real-life F1 race weekend outside a simulator — but they can often be plagued with stoppages as cars spin or crash and are dragged back to the paddock.
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A specific race event, solely for rookie drivers, could be the answer to one of F1’s biggest problems.
“I think any race, we would love to do as a racing driver,” said Sauber junior Zane Maloney. “Of course, when you get the call up in anything, if I’m driving a Formula 3 car [or] a Formula 4 car tomorrow, I’m going do the best job I can. So I think we’re all ready to jump in and drive a F1 car for sure.”
Fellow F2 driver Paul Aron agreed that the test would provide a “great” opportunity, but did point out some of the concepts flaws too.
“I think, if there’s drivers who don’t have previous mileage in an F1 car, throwing them into a race is, it’s definitely interesting,” he said. “So I think it would be a great idea if there’s a bit of track time, at least – I don’t know – one day of testing and then the race.
“But any driver you ask. if you give them a chance to drive an F1 car, no matter what format, if it’s a test, a race, a practice, everyone will take it. So whatever it is, if it’s more mileage, it’s very much welcome. And I think for the spectators, it will be really fun, but for the mechanics, maybe not so fun.”
Formula 1 team bosses have also voiced their support of the concept, as a specific rookie event held outside the regular F1 season could reduce the stress on team’s title aspirations.
“We’re keen in giving rookie drivers more opportunity,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. “The stretch is that if you give it to them on a grand prix race weekend, it could impact the main drivers’ performances. If you let them race on a main weekend, it could influence the race result, which could be pretty damaging if you’re fighting for a championship.
“So we really didn’t find another way of letting them go through this whole sequence of a race weekend, pushing the car, being able to make comparisons. Because with a day of racing in Abu Dhabi, they’re all going to be on the same fuel. They’re all going to be on the same tyre. And it will be interesting to see how they compare in those respective cars.
“It’s going to be a strain for the team, obviously, because we have another day. But we are in the entertainment industry and that’s the best idea so far that we have come up with to give them more driving time.”
