As Formula One bosses and the FIA continue to look into ways of cashing in on their explosion of interest in Formula One thanks to Netflix, and since they are avoiding the obvious paths of making it easy for an American driver or well credentialed team, The Gurgler’s Ideas Department aka The Left Field team have an left field suggestion – Formula 1 Wildcard Driver System.
It ticks a lot of bosses, giving more drivers a chance to impress, more changes to the current system that the FIA seem to be hellbent in changing, and the US do love a Wildcard system in their sports.
And just look at the recent Australian Open, where the Men’s Doubles was won by two local smokies, while the single men’s draw winner was as predictable and boring as ever. F1 does know a thing or two about one person/team winning a lot all the time, so why not spice it up some more.
The Left Field’s Formula 1 Wildcard Driver System is relatively simple, but with an eye for tactics to keep the fans on their toes and the team bosses at each other’s throats.
- Each team gets to operate a third car for the full weekend at two races (not Sprint Races)
- Choice of race is the team’s decision.
- Driver must have completed a full season of F2 / F3 / Indycars in last two years, or competed in F1 with last 3 seasons.
- Points scored are included in Constructor’s Championship.
It’s similar to the old Friday Practice third driver session, except the Wildcard F1 drivers will be involved in every session.
What’s the benefits you say? Well first we’ll get to see more drivers getting a go, and there’s plenty that miss out from F2 and F3, or perhaps a certain American driver who couldn’t get enough Super License points to land a drive at Alpha Tauri.
Entertaining drivers like Dan Ticktum who would have taken F1 by storm given the chance, would now have a chance to shine even if it is just a one-off.
Or simply, a driver who rarely gets a chance at F1 can pull a Nyck de Vries and nail their opportunity, at the expense of the Nicholas Latifis of this world.
Then there’s the added chaos of having newer drivers on the grid at many races. Or some dirty tactics by the teams themselves.
For example, let’s say Red Bull use Daniel Ricciardo at Monaco where he could qualify ridiculously high in comparison to his McLaren form, and simply follow team orders to keep as many cars behind him, as long as the Red Bulls were in front. This would drive Toto Wolff and other team leaders insane, which makes for great conflict in the Drive to Survive Series. For once the Netflix show would have actual and not make-believe tension.
Even more fun would be if all the teams wanted to use their Wildcard at Monaco and the field would be a crowded 30 cars and make the race completely absurd. More absurd than usual.
Or maybe teams could wait and see how the Championships are going and hire someone to get in the way of the rival team late in the season. Although we must say that causing deliberate collisions is not cool.
So will a Formula 1 Wildcard Driver System get off the ground? Stranger things have happened in Formula One, but who can rule it out with all of F1’s interest in the USA and new markets and audiences these days.
If it does, you can say you heard it here first at The Gurgler.
