Peter Windsor explains why F1 rookie sprint race is ‘half-hearted’

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Plans for Formula 1 to hold a Sprint race for rookies have been shelved for the 2024 season, following a meeting between the FIA and teams.

The concept was discussed for a while but stakeholders decided during a meeting of the F1 Commission that it was best not to proceed due to “organisational constraints” and has instead been deferred to 2025.

The format proposed was to have something similar to sprint weekends in the immediate aftermath of the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi.

There would be qualifying and a 100km race on the same day, with 10 rookie drivers between each of the teams having a chance to compete against each other without teams worrying about damage.

It is seen as a great opportunity to give rookies a chance after drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli were given Friday practice outings earlier in the season.

Peter Windsor discussed the format on his recent YouTube livestream and felt that it was ‘half-hearted’ by F1 and the FIA, explaining how the format should take place for it to be effective.

Peter Windsor gives his format for rookie F1 sprint race

Windsor has previously suggested having a rookie sprint race separate to the F1 calendar under the previous ownership before Liberty Media, detailing how teams could use previous cars like they did with in-season tests.

“I’ve been pushing to have a second-tier F1 for all the talented young drivers that don’t have an opportunity to race for many years,” said Windsor.

“My concept is to have a separate championship, owned by Liberty or whoever owns F1, but run independently with its own races and endorsed by the FIA, using cars provided by the existing teams.

“Obviously not the current cars, but the FIA and teams have taken a half-hearted and watered-down version of this idea.”

Rookie sprint race had too much to consider in short space of time

While the rookie sprint race received unanimous support from F1 teams, it was decided to delay it due to the amount of consideration needed within a short space of time.

It would have required its own set of regulations, which would be a cut and paste of whatever is relevant in the regular World Championship rulebook with some bespoke additions, along with FIA officials and marshals present to run the race safely at an FIA-licenced circuit.

There was also talk of an age cut-off to 25 years old, however, McLaren pointed out that Toyota WEC racer Ryo Hirakawa is 30 years-old and could end up being called upon to compete.

Overall there was too much to consider in such a short space of time, which is why it will be deferred until next season when a proper plan of action is in place.