Rookies have a tough task in Formula 1 as they have finally ascended the junior ladder to race at the highest level and compete professionally against the world’s best drivers.
In recent years, there has been a push to ease the process for young drivers making the step up to F1 and all the added pressure that goes with it.
The 10 Formula 1 teams now have to run a rookie driver in at least two FP1 sessions over the season, with each of their full-time race drivers being forced to sit out one per year.
F1’s latest idea is to also incorporate a sprint race exclusively for rookie drivers into the post-season Abu Dhabi test held after the final round of the Formula 1 season.
The drivers would likely come from the Formula 2 and FIA F3 championships and likely already have links to F1 teams.
Formula 1’s proposed idea is to have the 10 rookies participating in the test run a qualifying session midway through the day and battle in a sprint race later in the evening.
Only drivers who have started no more than two Formula 1 Grand Prix would count as a rookie and be eligible for the post-season sprint race, ruling drivers like Liam Lawson out.
So, with that in mind, Full Oversteer has taken a look at which drivers may be selected to participate in the proposed post-season Formula 1 rookie sprint race in Abu Dhabi at the end of this year.
Red Bull – Isack Hadjar – FIA Formula 2
Red Bull have a multitude of young drivers in their ranks, including Arvid Lindblad who was very impressive in FIA F3 this season.
Pepe Marti has struggled slightly in Formula 2, on the other hand, scoring just three podiums for Campos Racing this season in the championship.
Yet despite Marti and Lindblad being talented, Isack Hadjar would likely be chosen to drive the Red Bull in the rookie F1 sprint race in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman is battling for the FIA F2 title against Gabriel Bortoleto and may become the reserve driver at RB if Lawson steps into a race seat.
Hadjar has also driven the Red Bull previously in first practice ahead of this year’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, although he completed just 15 laps.
Mercedes – Andrea Kimi Antonelli – FIA Formula 2
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been enjoying a meteoric rise through the junior ranks, skipping FIA F3 and will replace Lewis Hamilton to become a Mercedes Formula 1 driver in 2025.
The Italian has driven superbly in Formula 2 this season, recovering from a difficult start to sit sixth in the standings after taking two victories.
He was also given an opportunity to drive the Mercedes in FP1 at this year’s Italian Grand Prix but crashed the car in the opening minutes.
Antonelli’s speed was very impressive in the short time he was on the circuit, and has been the only Mercedes junior close to getting an F1 drive.
The German team do have Frederik Vesti as a reserve driver and he was competitive in Formula 2, but Antonelli is the driver Mercedes are backing for Formula 1.
Ferrari – Dino Beganovic – FIA F3
Dino Beganovic has been competitive during his two-year stint in FIA Formula 3 and is the Ferrari Driver Academy’s closest prospect to reach Formula 1 next.
The Swede has failed to challenge for the championship in his two seasons so far in the series but would likely be trusted to compete in the sprint race.
Beganovic scored two wins over the 2024 season in FIA F3 but lacked the ultimate speed through the year to challenge for the championship.
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He would however be Ferrari’s best option as Haas would most likely opt for their new recruit, Oliver Bearman, in Abu Dhabi ahead of his full-time Formula 1 debut in 2025.
The Italian team do have other drivers in their academy, but they all race further down the ladder in regional Formula 3 series and aren’t as experienced as Beganovic.
McLaren – Gabriel Bortoleto – FIA Formula 2
Bortoleto has become a contender to join the Formula 1 grid for the 2025 season after a couple of impressive years in FIA F3 and F2.
The Brazilian won the F3 title and is battling for the championship in Formula 2 after closing down Hadjar’s commanding points advantage.
Bortoleto is McLaren’s closest junior to Formula 1 and is more experienced than both Alex Dunne and Ugo Ugochukwu.
The Invicta driver has also been linked with the vacant Sauber F1 seat for next season after his impressive performances, but he will likely drive the McLaren as he is their best option.
F1’s post season rookie sprint race would be a great opportunity for Bortoleto as he has not yet been given the opportunity to compete in an FP1 session.
Aston Martin – Felipe Drugovich – Aston Martin’s Reserve driver
Aston Martin may only have one option to drive their car in the proposed Abu Dhabi rookie sprint race, which is Brazilian Felipe Drugovich.
He enjoyed an impressive junior career, winning the Formula 2 championship by 101 points in 2022, but Drugovich’s career has since stalled.
Drugovich has completed reserve driver and testing duties in both F1 and Formula E over the past two years and the 24-year-old has driven in just four ELMS events.
The Brazilian would benefit from driving a modern Formula 1 car, even if his chances of landing a full-time drive in F1 are slim.
RB – Arvid Lindblad – FIA F3
Lindblad performed admirably during his only season in FIA Formula 3, finishing fourth in the championship. He even had the chance to win the title heading into the final round at Monza.
The British driver’s impressive season in Formula 3 has even seen Lindblad rewarded with a full-time campaign in FIA F2 with Campos Racing next year.
Lindblad may be usurped by his fellow Red Bull junior Marti, who is more experienced after racing in Formula 2.
But the Spaniard has struggled at the second tier of motorsport and Lindblad has moved up through the ranks quickly, as he was racing in F4 in 2023.
Lindblad may be the preferred option for RB as he has had a better season than Marti and has looked more confident when behind the wheel, able to battle at the front.
Haas – Oliver Bearman – FIA Formula 2
Bearman would be the most likely candidate to drive the Haas car as it would give the British driver a chance to further his learning ahead of racing for them in Formula 1 full-time in 2025.
He has suffered in FIA Formula 2 this season, despite his immense talent, as PREMA struggled to adapt to the new-for-2024 car at first.
But despite his lacklustre F2 season, Bearman performed admirably when parachuted into Formula 1 driving Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari in Saudi Arabia and also replaced Kevin Magnussen, who was serving a one-race ban, for Haas in Azerbaijan.
Abu Dhabi is also a circuit he has never driven around in a Formula 1 car before, and some laps in different temperatures would be a good experience for him in learning the circuit.
Williams – Luke Browning – FIA F3
Luke Browning would be Williams’ likeliest option to drive in the sprint race after Franco Colapinto moved up to Formula 1 for the rest of 2024 and Zak O’Sullivan failing to complete the F2 season.
The British driver battled for the FIA F3 title, keeping up the momentum after winning last year’s Macau Grand Prix.
Browning is also gaining extra experience, completing the final three rounds of the Formula 2 championship with ART ahead of a possible full-time season next year.
He is yet to drive a Formula 1 car in a competitive environment but tested the 2021 Aston Martin F1 car at Silverstone after winning the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award.
The Williams junior is the team’s closest driver to Formula 1 that would be eligible to compete in the event in Abu Dhabi and has proven he can drive an F1 car previously.
Alpine – Jack Doohan – Alpine’s reserve and 2025 race driver
Alpine are promoting their reserve driver Jack Doohan to a race seat in Formula 1 full-time next season alongside Frenchman Pierre Gasly.
Doohan had taken a year out from racing this year to focus on his commitments as their reserve driver, helping Alpine develop their car.
The Australian has also undertaken six FP1 sessions on race weekends during his career, including a couple this year, gaining valuable experience.
Alpine may also choose their young driver Victor Martins to run the car, but it would make more sense to give Doohan extra time in the car ahead of his Grand Prix debut in 2025.
Sauber – Theo Pourchaire – Sauber’s reserve driver
Theo Pourchaire has endured an unlucky season after giving up his Super Formula campaign to race in IndyCar before being dropped midway through the season by McLaren.
The Frenchman is still involved with Sauber in Formula 1, though, sharing reserve driver duties with Zane Maloney over the year.
Pourchaire is the more experienced driver in Sauber’s academy, having raced in professional championships as well as driving in FP1 sessions over the past couple of years.
He could still be an option to drive for Sauber in 2025, as well, although there is competition from Bortoleto and Colapinto as well as Valtteri Bottas.