Upcoming Formula 1 talents will have to wait another year before they can prove themselves in the so-called rookie race. The Formula 1 Commission aims to hold the rookie sprint race for the first time in 2026. In addition, the commission members also decided on adjustments to the start procedure and the introduction of a cooling kit for drivers during the meeting.
The subject of the so-called rookie race was already discussed during the commission’s meeting in July. However, in October it was decided that due to lack of time, this would not take place until after 2024. It now appears that upcoming Formula 1 talents will have to wait until 2026 before they can prove themselves in an F1 car. “The commission remains interested in the concept (of the rookie race) and will further consider it in 2025 with the aim of a rookie sprint race in 2026,” reads the official press release. The meeting took place on November 13.
In addition to the much-discussed sprint race, the start procedure was also on the agenda. There was confusion about the procedure during the Grand Prix of São Paulo when Williams decided not to let Alexander Albon start the race. As a result, his seventh starting place on the grid remained empty. “The Commission has confirmed a revised protocol for closing the grid when a team withdraws a car.”
Cooling Kit
Finally, changes to the technical and financial regulations for 2025 were approved, and progress was made with the “drafting of the regulations for 2026”. The commission also approved the introduction of a “cooling kit” for drivers. The overheating of drivers under extreme racing conditions, such as during the Grand Prix of Singapore, was discussed again this year. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell did not appear for the media after the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit because they had become unwell due to the heat.
