Will Antonelli be in an 'F1 race' this year already? 'A great idea'
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- Ludo van Denderen
A final decision has not yet been made, but it seems likely that the 2024 F1 season will not end on 8 December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. There will probably be another race a few days later, with the ten F1 teams and rookies who will have the chance to drive a race in a Formula 1 car.
Formula 1's Sporting Advisory Committee will vote on the idea on 2 October, but there are reportedly no obstacles to anything other than a positive outcome. In principle, the idea is that on the Tuesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 10 rookies will first hold a qualifying session before competing in a sprint race later in the day. Each F1 team will thus field one rookie.
Idea supported by the CEO
Bruno Michel, the CEO of Formula 2 and Formula 3, is already raving about the intention. "I think it's great," said the Frenchman during an exclusive interview with GPblog. "I think it still has to go with the F1 commission. So it's not decided 100% yet. But of course, I'm so much in favour of it."
"I think it's a fantastic opportunity for our drivers. It's a great, great idea. I'm very glad it happens. Much better than the rookie tests. I think it's more complete. It's a more complete day. And they will have testing in the morning. And racing in the afternoon. If it's voted. And for me, it's a fantastic opportunity."
The obvious choice in that case would be for Mercedes to let Andrea Kimi Antonelli race while Oliver Bearman steps in at Haas. Alpine may opt for Jack Doohan, for example. All these drivers will become regular F1 drivers in 2025, so they are likely to gain important experience in Abu Dhabi.
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton