F1 Sprint race: plan emerges for extra-championship race dedicated to young drivers
08/03/2024 05:05 AM
A tradition fallen into disuse
On April 10, 1983, at Brands Hatch, the 14th edition of the so-called Race of Champions was held, won by Keke Rosberg in a Williams, and it remains the last non-championship F1 race in history. However, in the medium to long term, this particular list could be updated. According to the authoritative British website The Race, there is a proposal under consideration to create an entire Sprint weekend – with the short race format introduced in the series back in 2021 – to be held at the end of the championship and entirely dedicated to young drivers.
The event would consist of free practice, qualifying, and a Sprint race, and would be placed in the slot traditionally dedicated to the young driver test held in Abu Dhabi at the end of each championship. There seems to be full agreement and availability from the teams and other involved parties on the general idea. However, there are organizational and regulatory obstacles to overcome and operational guidelines to define.
Room for the young drivers
First of all, it needs to be decided who will participate: in this case, the rule of having competed in no more than two GPs in Formula 1, which already applies to young drivers who must be fielded at least twice a year during FP1 sessions, could be valid. It would also be necessary to understand if and how to bypass the budget cap constraints that limit team expenses during the year, as well as the limits on the use of power units, gearboxes, and other components that are restricted during the championship. These are obstacles that could potentially be overcome if there is unity among the teams.
Another sensitive problem would be the management of TV rights for this potential special event ‘outside’ the championship. The big positive side would be for the teams to be able to test young talents from lower formulas and other championships in a weekend that would be almost identical to that of a ‘classic’ GP. It seems unlikely that this special event could take place as early as 2024. The end of the 2025 Formula 1 season, however, represents a credible and realistic moment.
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