The rookie race will not take place after the Abu Dhabi GP

F1 postpones its much-anticipated rookie sprint race to 2025, excluding it from the Abu Dhabi post-season schedule.

Discussions between Formula 1 teams, the FOM, and the FIA regarding the possibility of a rookie sprint race after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of the season have finally concluded… with the F1 Commission deciding on October 2 to delay the project’s approval until 2025!

“The concept of a ‘rookie race’ being added to the 2024 post-season test calendar in Abu Dhabi was discussed. While the idea received broad support, it was decided that due to scheduling and logistical constraints, the event will not take place in 2024. Discussions will continue to develop a potential concept and plan for 2025,” the FIA stated this evening in a press release.

All parties had previously reached an agreement during a meeting held over the Azerbaijan GP weekend.

According to the plans submitted for a vote, the sprint race was set to take place on the Tuesday following the Abu Dhabi GP—December 10—starting at around 5 p.m. local time, the same hour as the 2024 season finale.

The first half of the day was still set to focus on the traditional post-season test, during which some drivers could have debuted with their new teams, such as Carlos Sainz at Williams, with a qualifying session preceding the rookie sprint race.

Each team would have been limited to one rookie and one car, meaning 10 drivers would have been on the grid.

Now, everything is postponed until 2025, and the December 10th day will be entirely dedicated to testing.

Which rookies were eligible?

Under the proposed plan, drivers could not have competed in more than two Grands Prix—meaning Oliver Bearman could have driven for Haas F1, but not Franco Colapinto or Liam Lawson.

Mercedes would have naturally fielded Kimi Antonelli, while Alpine F1 was expected to use Jack Doohan, both of whom are their confirmed drivers for 2025. Ferrari might have handed its SF-24 to Robert Shwartzman, while McLaren had the option between Gabriel Bortoleto and Patricio O’Ward.

According to a statement by Dr. Helmut Marko earlier today, Red Bull was set to line up Isack Hadjar, with Ayumu Iwasa going to RB F1. Among other clear rookie candidates, it seems logical that Aston Martin F1 would have called on its reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich.

At Stake F1, Théo Pourchaire might have gotten his chance, or perhaps Zane Maloney… unless Bortoleto had been announced as a full-time or reserve driver by then.

As for Williams F1, immediate options were limited, with Luke Browning being their primary candidate after parting ways with Zak O’Sullivan recently.