I am really pleased to be able to watch non-stop Formula 1 testing coverage from Bahrain, everyone who made it happen needs to be applauded but, as much as I really enjoy the Sky F1 commentary but must be corrected when they tinker with traditions to suit their narrative.
During today’s live coverage on F1TV, with Sky F1 excellent commentary team in top form, Anthony Davidson was stand-out stellar, his deeply honest revelation about the journey to his retirement, realization it was over for a too-self-critical race driver, was riveting stuff – I felt like shrink listening to a patient unleash while F1 2023 cars pounded tarmac in the background. Respect and applause.
However, at one point during the morning stanza of F1 testing, on day two in Bahrain, the conversation gravitated to this year’s F1 rookies, Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant, and… Nyck de Vries of course.
To cut a long story short, everyone barring the real race driver – Davidson – concluded that de Vries was in fact “not a rookie “as he made his F1 debut (so spectacularly) at the Italian Grand Prix last year. One F1 race is on his resume.
Today, Sky F1 pundits, unanimously decided to rewrite an old motorsport tradition which is that a rookie season for a race driver is the first full season in a series, in this case F1. Ditto, the same thing for rookies in other pro-sports.
Thus de Vries is very much an F1 rookie, as Monza was his debut race, that’s it. His full rookie season lies ahead, 2023 no matter what Sky F1’s illustrious pundits may want you to believe. Its disinformation, fake news live!
De Vries, Piastri and Sargeant are the three F1 rookies on the grid this year
Facts are, since F1 began in 1950, a rookie is a driver doing a full season or at least, half a season with a team; one, two or three outings hardly count as a season, even in the ‘old days’ when the calendar was far less congested.
As much as the Sky F1 banter and information are enthralling, and despite having thre need to fill the silence with words, it’s fickle and disrespectful to deep traditions of motorsport that need not be tinkered with. And sullies the otherwise impeccable delivery from the team.
So keep up the good work Skay F1, but please don’t rewrite history to suit your narrative for whatever reason or motives. And the damage is substantial, as n00b fans will be switching off with the disinformation implanted.
When at the end of the year (or argument’s sake) de Vries scoops F1 Rookie of the Year awards, be sure the toxic social media maggots will catch on to this and sour the whole concept, simply because of unnecessary and irresponsible commentary.
In closing and for the record: We have three rookies on the F1 this season: Nyck de Vries, Oscar Piastri, and Logan Sargeant. From this trio, the 2023 F1 Rookie of the Season will emerge, in November, at Yas Marina Circuit. The official F1 website is on our side:
