As part of the new regulations for the 2022 season, the FIA requires all teams to line up a rookie driver in at least two free practice sessions, that is, one who has never officially competed in any Formula 1 grand prix. For this reason, all the teams seek to balance the dates so that they do not coincide with key moments of the course, such as urban layouts or weekends in which they introduce important improvements so that their owners can test them and obtain reliable data.
Some have already checked the mandatory box required by the international federation, such as Red Bull, who gave Sergio Pérez’s seat to Jüri Vips to ride with the RB18 at the Spanish Grand Prix, or Alfa Romeo, who complied at the appointment Bahrain’s inaugural due to the fact that Guanyu Zhou was recorded as a rookie in the highest category of motorsport.
Hinwil’s own team is one of those with one of the most promising prospects, Frenchman Théo Pourchaire , who became the youngest driver to win a Formula 2 race after he climbed to the top of the podium at the Monaco Grand Prix last year with ART Grand Prix at just 17 years old, beating Lando Norris.
The team boss, Frédéric Vasseur , acknowledged that they are trying to find a place for the Frenchman to debut with a Formula 1 car during the dispute over an official weekend, but assured that it will be “difficult” due to calendar problems so tight
“We will find an FP1 session because in the regulations it says that you have to give it to a rookie,” said the team director. “But when we discuss it, if you take into account Formula 2 racing and our sprint format, it will be difficult.
“And you can’t think of a session for a rookie in Singapore, even in Suzuka, although I think Max [Verstappen] did it a few years ago,” Vasseur said, recalling the Dutchman’s first few kilometers in 2014 with Toro Rosso. “You don’t have as many appointments until the end, but we will find a solution through the regulations, it is mandatory.”
Currently, the French driver is third in the general classification of Formula 2 after having added 114 points thanks to his two victories in Sakhir and Imola, in addition to his five podiums in the eight weekends played so far.
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