Haas announced this week that it will retain the racing duo of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen for 2024.
Team boss Gunther Steiner praised his expertise, and Haas sacked young driver Mick Schumacher after his two multi-million dollar stunts forced the scrap of 2022 upgrades to meet the cost cap.
Along with financial constraints, the move to six sprint races (the format that only includes one practice session before qualifying) has also increased the need for drivers to start racing every weekend.
Williams team principal James Vowles believes these elements, combined with the alternative tire allocation qualifying format being experimented with this season, mean F1 requires a “rethink” or else the risk is run. risk of favoring experienced pilots at the expense of new talent.
The former Mercedes head of strategy said: “As we are now with the ATA format, the sprint race format, wet weather also appears almost most weekends, you are in a situation where [a rookie driver’s] the learning cycle has been significantly shortened from what you knew five, 10, or 15 years ago.
“I think it’s probably worth rethinking at certain levels what we can do to help running backs in this circumstance, because eventually we’ll get to a position where we’re not adding new running backs at the rate we want.
“Or do we have to leave them in the car so long that you compromise your [team] performance. This is a long-term discussion.”
Mercedes-AMG reserve driver Mick Schumacher watches Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-23, pass in pit lane
Photo de: Mark Sutton / motor sports photos
Outgoing AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost touched on the makeup of the F1 calendar, whose current campaign includes Saudi Arabia, Melbourne and Miami in the first five rounds, tracks where FIA F2 drivers have limited experience.
The Austrian also mentioned that F1’s current business boom has reduced the incentive for a team to support an inexperienced newcomer.
Tost, who estimated that a driver needs up to 6,000km of private testing before entering F1, said: “A few years ago it became much more difficult for novice drivers to break into Formula 1.
“Because? First of all, the field is very, very even. Secondly, on the financial side, 10 or 15 years ago, you were maybe 10th place.” [in the constructors’ championship] 20.30 million US dollars.
“Today they earn 70, 80 million. That means there is a big difference.
“The steering will work as you try to with experienced drivers, because otherwise you will be last in the constructors’ championship.”
He added: “If you want to sign a rookie driver, you really need to prepare him the best you can or else you won’t have a chance.”
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2023-08-26 03:34:25
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