The changes to Formula 1’s sprint race format which have been made to produce more action could have the opposite effect in some cases, drivers believe.
Formula 1 has revised the sprint race format which will be used at six rounds this year, starting with this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. While the Saturday races were previously used to decide the starting order for the grand prix, this will no longer be the case.
Friday’s qualifying session will now decide the grid for the grand prix. An extra qualifying session, called the ‘sprint shootout’, will take place instead of second practice, to decide the starting order for the sprint race. The sprint race will continue to pay the same number of points as before, but it will not determine the starting order for the race.
As drivers no longer need to fear compromising their grid position for the grand prix if they crash in the sprint race, F1 expects the changes to the format will encourage them to take more risks.
However as points are only awarded to the top eight positions in the sprint race, and lower finishes have no bearing on a driver’s championship position, those in the lower half of the field may find they have little to fight for.
Williams drive Logan Sargeant said drivers who find themselves outside the points positions early in the 17-lap sprint race will have little incentive to push flat-out until the end. “I think in that situation you will find yourself using it to, just realistically, gather information for the GP on Sunday,” he said.
“At the same time things can get crazy into turn one and you find yourself in a good position where you can score some points. So anything could happen, especially here. But I think if you find yourself not in the points after the first six, seven laps or so, then you’re going to use it more as a test session.”
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However the nature of the Baku City Circuit where this weekend’s event is being held could increase the potential rewards for those further down the grid.
“I think it’s going to be a eventful,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “If you look at it in an opportunistic type of way, then it can be good. You definitely have to keep out of trouble because I’m sure it’s going to be hectic. But I’m just going to take what’s put down, I guess.”
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