Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Breaking news

F1 unlikely to run sprint races at every grand prix

Formula 1 chiefs will restrict the number of sprint races to select ‘Grand Slam’ events in the future if trials are successful this year.

Sparks fly as Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, and the rest of the field at the start

Sparks fly as Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W12, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, and the rest of the field at the start

Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Following unanimous support at the F1 Commission on Monday, F1 will run three sprint qualifying experiments later this season to see if the format is good for the championship.

The first two sprint races will take place at Silverstone and Monza, with the final one to take place at an unspecified flyaway location.

While there are hopes the sprint races are a hit with fans and race promoters, F1’s managing director of motorsports Ross Brawn has made is clear that it is unlikely to make the format an ever-present fixture at all grands prix.

Instead, Brawn suggests that if F1 decides to go ahead with sprint races into 2022 then they would likely be only run at specifically chosen venues.

“I’m not sure this format would be as successful at Monaco,” Brawn told the official F1 website.

“We’re considering these weekends being Grand Slam events, spread through the season, so it is something different.

“I don’t think it’ll go to the whole season. I think it’ll be a limited number of races, but that is to be decided.”

Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports

Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports

Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images

While the sprint race vote got unanimous support from teams, F1 and the FIA, there remains some divided opinion among fans about whether or not a Saturday race is a good idea.

Read Also:

Brawn is clear that he thinks sprint qualifying will be a good thing for F1, and he says finding a solution that suited both teams and drivers was essential.

“[One of the challenges was] finding a format that had the right balance between giving us an opportunity to have exciting Friday and Saturday running – perhaps a shorter format race but one which did not take anything away from main event,” he added.

“We had to find that balance. Everyone had a different opinion on what that should look like. It was also about finding an economic and logistical solution that didn’t impact teams too severely.

“They want this event, but they are all working under massive challenges and we had to find a solution that worked with them without compromising the event.

“The drivers are open minded about the format - and that’s all we ask, that the drivers keep an open mind so we can evaluate this event and then we decide if in the future it forms a feature of the F1 season. If it doesn’t work, we put hands up and we will think again.”

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation

Related video

Previous article Seidl supports Ricciardo over F1 social media comments
Next article How Aston Martin is fighting back from its low rake deficit

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe