F1 News: All F1 teams now support end of year rookie race

All Formula 1 teams are supporting a plan to arrange a post-season race for rookie drivers in Abu Dhabi, says Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

The intention behind the proposal is to give junior drivers more opportunities to demonstrate their potential and since it’s the end of the year, the teams no longer have a use for the car in the event it is damaged.

“We discussed it in the F1 Commission and I think we’re keen in giving rookie drivers more opportunity,” Wolff said.

“The stretch is that if you give it to them on a grand prix race weekend, it’s going to impact the main drivers, or 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.

“We didn’t find another way of letting them go through this whole sequence of a race weekend, pushing in the car, being able to make comparisons. With a day of racing in Abu Dhabi, they’re all going to be on the same fuel [loads], they’re all going to be on the same tire and it will be interesting to see how they compare in those respective cars. And the season is finished.”

“It’s going to be a strain for the team, obviously, because we have another day [of running],” he said. “But we are in the entertainment industry and that’s the best idea so far that we have come up to give them more driving time.”