So, with F1 having approved plans on Tuesday for an overhaul of its sprint race weekend format, teams will be studying the revised regulations to ensure that they are on the front foot and ready to go into battle in Baku this weekend.
While the FIA has announced outlines for the revised sprint weekend format – which includes the new Sprint Shootout qualifying session – it is the formal publication of updated sporting regulations that has offered a proper idea of the complications and quirks to expect.
Here is a run-down of the most important aspects before the first experience of the new format.
Sprint Shootout is effectively one shot qualifying
The switch to make the Saturdays of sprint weekends totally standalone has been triggered by the desire to make that morning’s action a qualifying session rather than practice.
F1 had been juggling how best to work a qualifying session though, because of issues over the number of tyre sets available and worries about extended engine mileage if power units had to be pushed harder for longer.
The favoured solution has been a compressed Q1/Q2/Q3 qualifying format, with the three sessions running for 12 minutes, 10 minutes and eight minutes (compared to 18/15/12 normally).
While at first glance the new format seems to be just a more intense version of what we have right now, it is the tyre rules surrounding it that will make it a different beast.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19, leaves the garage
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The new rules stipulate that for SQ1 and SQ2 (as the new sprint shootout qualifying sessions have been labelled), drivers can only use medium tyres, and for the final session just a soft.
However, more crucially, the regulations are specific in stating that drivers can only use a single ‘new set’ of such specification in each segment.
This effectively means that there is no opportunity for drivers to get a banker lap on an old set early on. Plus, if they mess up their proper qualifying effort, there won’t be a second chance to go on fresh rubber and make amends.
PLUS: The winners and losers from F1’s new sprint format
Even though the sessions are long enough for drivers to get more than a single run in, the reality of peak tyre performance coming on the first lap means drivers know there will be just one lap to nail that qualifying time.
Parc ferme is still as strict as ever
While the Saturdays of sprint weekends are now completely standalone in terms…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Autosport.com – Formula 1 – Stories…