The reverse experiment we will still get in Austria
Although hopes of Formula 1 experimenting with a reversed grid in the second of the two Austrian grands prix have fallen by the wayside, keeping things the same will still provide an indication of what to expect in future double-headers
While many in Formula 1 still lament the missed opportunity to try out reversed-grid qualifying races at the double headers this year, it doesn't mean that there will not be some great learning opportunities that can come our way in these unprecedented times.
In fact, the Styrian Grand Prix, which takes place at the Red Bull Ring just one week after the Austrian Grand Prix, should deliver us some fantastic answers on what contributes to the F1 spectacle. It's almost a reverse experiment, in not changing things to better understand things.
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Jonathan Noble is Motorsport.com’s Formula 1 editor. Having graduated from University of Sussex Jonathan worked for sports news agency Collings Sports reporting on F1, F3, touring cars and other sports, with articles appearing in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Reuters, Autosport and other publications. In 1999 he moved to Haymarket Publishing to become a senior editor at Autosport Special Projects, and one year later he became Autosport’s grand prix editor. In 2015 he moved to Motorsport Network, becoming the F1 editor for Motorsport.com. He is also a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and sits on the FIA Media Council.
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