Formula 1 plans to introduce a new version of its sprint race format for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend.
It follows F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s comments earlier this year about his desire to cut the amount of practice sessions to one per weekend, and ensure every other time the cars appear on track they have something to compete for. The revised sprint format moves closer towards that idea.
Instead of using a Friday qualifying session to set the grid for Saturday’s sprint race, Friday would decide the grand prix grid. A second round of qualifying on Saturday, replacing the second practice session, would set the sprint race grid.
Does the latest revision to the format look like an improvement to you? Would you rather stick with the original sprint schedule – or a return to the regular race weekend?
Join in this weekend’s debate below.
New sprint format
First practice, grand prix qualifying, sprint race qualifying, sprint race, grand prix
The current sprint format has been criticised for a number of reasons, two of which these changes would address.
The contradiction of using the Saturday sprint race to decide the grand prix grid, yet referring to the quickest driver in Friday qualifying as the pole-winner, would be resolved. The second practice session, which has always seemed a pointless affair under the original sprint format, would be replaced by a more competitive qualifying format giving drivers more to fight for.
Original sprint format
First practice, grand prix qualifying, second practice, sprint race, grand prix
This is the format which was planned before the season began. Changing it after the teams have already designed their cars and made their preparations may advantage some competitors over others.
As they have had so little pre-season testing, the extra practice time offered by the normal sprint weekend will be valuable.
Regular grand prix format
First practice, second practice, third practice, grand prix qualifying, grand prix
The sprint race format is an experiment F1 should drop instead of persisting with. It creates inconsistency by varying the format from weekend to weekend. It devalues the importance of the grand prix and will make it possible later in the year for the world championship to be decided outside of the main event. And the races tend to be processional as drivers know they have a longer race with far more points available still to come.
I say
My greatest objection to the sprint race format has always been the…
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