The regulations set by the FIA stipulate that every seasoned race driver must relinquish an FP1 session to a novice who has not started more than two grand prix races.
This year, rookie race drivers including Oscar Piastri at McLaren, Logan Sargeant at Williams, and Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri fulfilled this requirement by participating in FP1 during the season’s first race.
Interestingly, no additional rookies ran in an FP1 session during the first half of 2023, a marked difference from the prior year, when drivers like de Vries for Williams and Juri Vips for Red Bull participated in Barcelona.
This leaves 17 rookie slots that must be filled during the final 10 races of the season. As of now, the only official confirmation is for Frederik Vesti with Mercedes in Mexico.
The scheduling of these FP1 sessions is difficult for the teams because, out of the 10 remaining races, seven are truly available.
Events in Qatar, Austin, and Interlagos are sprint weekends, where FP1 precedes qualifying for the grand prix, making it infeasible for teams to include a rookie. Among the other seven races, several also present unique challenges.
High-risk street tracks like Singapore and Las Vegas aren’t suitable for rookies, particularly the latter as it is an unfamiliar venue. Zandvoort, Monza, and Abu Dhabi also host FIA F2 races, making teams hesitant to let their junior drivers be sidetracked by F1, especially if they’re in contention for championship standings and potentially an F1 super license.
Top seven contenders in this year’s F2 championship, all part of F1 teams, are prospective FP1 participants, including names like Theo Pourchaire (Alfa), Vesti (Mercedes), Ayumu Iwasa (Red Bull), and others.
Teams’ hesitations mean that Zandvoort and Monza are unlikely venues for F2 drivers in FP1, further complicated in Italy by an alternative tire allocation weekend. Some teams will inevitably have to resort to the Abu Dhabi finale, a scenario seen in 2022.
Such challenges don’t affect F1 reserves not currently racing in F2, like Felipe Drugovich at Aston Martin or Pietro Fittipaldi at Haas, offering more flexibility.
Additional factors complicate the situation in Suzuka and Mexico City, such as Pirelli’s prototype tire testing, complex running plans, and weather disruptions. However, Red Bull’s history at Suzuka means Liam Lawson could be a suitable candidate, and Iwasa could be a strong choice for AlphaTauri and Honda at the same venue.
Mexico remains a comparatively simple location for rookie running, even with Pirelli’s testing. Similar to Abu Dhabi, it is expected to witness a burst of rookie participation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: scheduling
What are the FIA rules regarding rookies in FP1 sessions?
The FIA rules specify that every seasoned race driver must give up an FP1 session for a rookie who has started no more than two grand prix races during the season.
Which rookie drivers participated in FP1 at the beginning of the 2023 season?
Oscar Piastri with McLaren, Logan Sargeant with Williams, and Nyck de Vries with AlphaTauri participated in FP1 at the opening race of the 2023 season.
Why is scheduling rookie FP1 sessions a challenge in the last 10 races of 2023?
Scheduling rookie FP1 sessions is complicated because of several factors, including the reduction of available races to seven due to sprint weekends, high-risk tracks, conflicts with F2 races, alternative tire allocation weekends, and the complex nature of some venues.
Who are some of the potential rookie FP1 contenders from the F2 championship?
The current top seven contenders in the F2 championship and thus potential FP1 contenders are Theo Pourchaire (Alfa), Frederik Vesti (Mercedes), Ayumu Iwasa (Red Bull), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Victor Martins (Alpine), Oliver Bearman (Ferrari), and Enzo Fittipaldi (Red Bull).
How are Suzuka and Mexico City unique in the context of rookie FP1 scheduling?
Suzuka and Mexico City present unique challenges for rookie FP1 scheduling due to Pirelli’s prototype tire testing and complex running plans. Suzuka’s tricky nature and potential weather disruptions add further complications, but historical precedents may make it suitable for specific rookies. Mexico is relatively straightforward for rookie running, despite Pirelli’s testing.
More about fokus keyword: scheduling
- FIA Official Rules
- F1 2023 Season Schedule
- F2 Championship Standings
- Pirelli Tire Testing
- Red Bull’s History at Suzuka
5 comments
Wow! Can’t believe the challenges the teams are facing this year with rookies, what a mess. Who do you guys think will fill those slots?
Where’s the excitement in putting rookies on the track if it’s all complicated logistics? Give them more chances. This is about the future of the sport people!
Logan Sargeant at Williams, finally! Been following him since his early days, happy to see him in F1. Hope the teams figure this scheduling out soon, want to see more fresh faces out there!
Its no wonder the teams are struggling with such a tight schedule, and all those complicated factors like sprint weekends, F2 races and new tracks. i’m excited to see who gets the spots, especially at Suzuka.
Pirelli’s testing the 2024 tyres? That’s news to me. Should be interestng to see how it works with the rookies and veterans on track, cant wait for Mexico and Abu Dhabi!