F1 race axed: FIA confirm scheduled event will not go ahead despite ‘widespread support’ amid workload fears
FORMULA 1 chiefs have axed the “rookie race” that had been set to take place in Abu Dhabi later this year.
Bosses had planned to stage a sprint-style race in a bid to give the most talented up-and-coming drivers a stage on which to showcase their talents.
Abu Dhabi, which is set to host the final race of the F1 season on December 7, had been identified as the location.
FIA chiefs claim that there is “widespread support” for such an event to take place in future.
But plans for it to go ahead later this year have been scrapped, with the FIA confirming their decision in an official statement.
It read: “While the concept received widespread support, it was determined that, due to timing and organisational constraints, the event would not take place in 2024, and discussions would continue to formulate a potential concept and plan for 2025.”
According to the BBC, a final decision was made at a meeting of the F1 Commission on Wednesday.
Their report adds that it was determined that more time is required in order to fine tune how the event will run.
It’s claimed that all parties, including the teams themselves, felt that the plan had been “rushed”.
One such concern was the further work load it would place upon team members.
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The event would have taken place after the final F1 race of the season, therefore extending what will already have been the longest campaign in the history of the sport.
Formula 1 is currently in the middle of a four-week break following the Singapore Grand Prix, which took place on September 22.
The next race is set to be staged in Austin, Texas on October 20.
This will then lead into a busy conclusion to the season, with remaining Grands Prix in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Max Verstappen leads the driver standings, despite having not won a race since June.
He is 52 points ahead of nearest challenger Lando Norris.
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