Team bosses happy with mandatory testing for young drivers from 2022 onwards

From next season onwards, the teams are obliged to use young drivers in free practice twice during the season. This is mainly because in 2022 the new regulations come into force, so the cars will be completely different, and the two test days prior to the season are not enough to get the rookies used to the new cars according to the FIA.

F1 team bosses are applauding the move. "We fully support the sporting rules that are in place next year, that we have to do compulsory two free practice sessions with young drivers during race weekends," McLaren boss Andreas Seidl told Crash.net. "It's just hard these days to get mileage in F1 for these young guys coming from the junior categories, and so it's also our responsibility to let them get that mileage. What's good is that it's mandatory for all teams because then it's fair from a sporting point of view, so I think that's good."

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff agrees wholeheartedly. "You're not allowed to have Grand Prix experience in that sense, so as Andreas said we need to give young drivers the chance to have a bit more stress during the race weekend, make a comparison with the other guys in the garage, work with the team, and I'm very happy with the rules for next year," the Austrian added.

Christian Horner doesn't often agree with Wolff this year, but agrees: "At Red Bull we're doing a lot to give young people a chance and I don't think that's just for the drivers. It's a good thing, anything that gives young drivers a chance to get some time. You hope it's based on merit and not available finance, but I think it's positive to make sure young drivers get a chance."