One subject dominated discussions ahead of the fourth round of the world champion: Formula 1’s revised sprint race format.
The first sprint race will take place tomorrow. However in a departure from the previous format, it will no longer decide the grid for the grand prix. Instead both the sprint race and grand prix will have their own qualifying sessions.
Will that improve a format which proved divisive on its introduction in 2021? Will all 20 drivers have a reason to push flat-out when only the top eight places score points? And is Baku City Circuit the right place for a sprint race?
Here’s what all 20 F1 drivers told media including RaceFans at the track yesterday.
Max Verstappen
Sprint races can detract from the main event – Verstappen
I look at it from a racing point of view and probably F1 looks at it from a business point of view. And of course I understand these sprint races they probably are a bit more exciting.
But then I look at it from the racing point of view and normally when you do the sprint race of course lap one, exciting, a few shunts here and there, a bit of damage or a Safety Car. A bit more excitement. But then throughout the race you get quite a clear picture of what is happening, who is the quickest moments.
So then you also have quite a clear view on what’s going to happen the next day. And that probably takes a bit the shine away from the main event.
I think we have to remain open. Let’s see how it goes. I just feel like there are places where you can bring this Sprint format. Baku, normally, generally, the racing is great just with the standard format, so probably there are races where we need to be more selective with the races where we need to improve things.
But let’s see. I really don’t have a strong opinion. I think it puts a lot of emphasis to be strong, to have a very solid FP1 and then from that onwards we’ll see. Every session becomes really important. But at the end of the day, I think Sunday is the priority for everyone.
Charles Leclerc
I prefer it. I don’t want it to become the main format in the future, but I think as a few weekends like this it’s quite good. Let’s see if it confirms that the show would be better on track, but I think it will be better in practice.
Leclerc expects a “very difficult” weekendI think in a normal season it’s not too bad. But knowing that the last time you were in the car was three weeks ago, it feels like a bit of a summer break: You come back from a break, you do only an hour of FP1 and then straight to quali is going to be quite a challenge, especially on a street track like Baku. So this weekend is going to be very, very difficult.
Carlos Sainz Jnr
The ‘shootout’ quali will be difficult, especially waking up in the morning and going straight into Q1. I need to do a good warm-up, maybe a cold shower, make sure I’m really woken up for pushing flat-out in one of these cars, bumpy cars on the straight first thing in the morning. I’ll make sure I do my morning routine well because it will be intense.
And then the sprint [race], 17 laps. Exciting, I think. More racing. More important laps in the weekend, obviously tougher, both mentally and physically for us – but if it makes the fans happy and the media happy and makes the product better, we will do it.
It is going to be tough for everybody. But we’re all in the same boat. And what a track to be able to do it at, where overtaking is possible. It’s great racing here. We have mostly the best races here.
So it’s definitely difficult to just have one session where you probably get, like, 20 laps, and then straightaway, you’re into qualifying. But, that’s what we’re here to do, right?
“I don’t think it’s going to change the order” – Russell
It was a little bit annoying last year having the sprint race setting the grid for Sunday. So in that regard it’s a positive.
On the flip side, it’s going to be very challenging for the teams. These F1 cars are so complex, the tyres are so complex. You’re going to a track like Baku that is basically a different track every time you drive. And to try and understand the car within 60 minutes is going to be challenging.
I don’t think it’s going to change the order really at all. One team might move up one position or down one position. So ultimately we just need to see if it’s better for the sport globally having this much action and hopefully it doesn’t dilute the excitement on Sunday.
I think as a driver, it’s great that you go straight into that qualifying sprint, that shootout qualifying without practice before. Because that could bring some uncertainty. Some drivers are not going to be awake, they are going to make mistakes, and it’s not going to be the same. So we’ll see. That brings opportunities and brings, you know, skills to the driver more importantly, so I look forward to that.
Pierre Gasly
The new format create “more meaningful” action, says Gasly
I must say, personally, I’m very excited about it. I feel like they are more meaningful sessions so every time that jumping in the car, you’ve got to sort of like zone in and be focussed and make it count every time you are doing laps. So I think it’s going to be interesting to see what we get out of it.
Definitely in terms of sprint formats I prefer that one, which makes the Saturday stands alone without impacting the Sunday race. And you get an extra quali, which is always fun. So I think looking forward to it. Just a bit tricky with the tyres. I do feel like we are probably missing one set just to make things easier for everyone. Now we might see quite a lot of compromises and different approaches to the weekend. But except that, just in terms of format, I think it’s going to be great.
When you go racing, you go racing. I don’t really approach it in any different ways. But you always want to be away from incidents. But I just feel you come into Saturday morning knowing that you’re going to maximise Saturday [and] whatever happens it won’t impact the Sunday race.
Lando Norris
I would expect [drivers will be more aggressive in the sprint race]. There’s still a budget cap, so you want to damage the car in any way, you don’t do anything silly. Especially for us, when we’re wanting to improve the car as much as possible, the least amount of damage we can cause, the better.
But I’m excited. I think it’s a better format. I prefer it a long way compared to what we had before. So you have more room, more opportunities for everyone. I like the fact that you have two qualifyings. I love the format of practice, qualifying on Friday. So the pressure is definitely higher. But yeah, I enjoy it more.
Yeah, I think it should be better than the previous sprint format. I didn’t race in it, but I think it will make hopefully the sprint on Saturday a bit more exciting. Well, I don’t know if it will make it more exciting, but obviously without penalties for Sunday, it won’t affect the grid. So we can take a bit more risk knowing that.
Drivers will be “sensible”, Piastri predictsI’m sure everyone will still be reasonably sensible, because we don’t all have the million spare parts. But I think it should be better than what it was previously.
Valtteri Bottas
I like the fact that it’s straight into action – just one practice but it becomes obviously more and more valuable and everyday has a session that really, really matters. Saturday is a proper day, it’s definitely more demanding mentally. Maybe even physically.
Here you need to be switched on for the whole weekend. You can’t just you know, take the Friday is in the normal practice day, but I think it’s good.
Guanyu Zhou
In general, as a driver, I still like the standard format. But I think with the current format to be starting adjustments on last year based on the sprint, it’s better here. For example in Imola I got taken out at turn one and I had to start the race at the back. So it’s like damage limitation has definitely been improved.
For us obviously the shootout, the name of the sprint qualifying is quite crazy or weird to think we’re using medium before Q3. It’s just a new experience for the team I guess.
You never know what happens. You could be 14th or 15th, and two laps to go, three laps to go, the Safety Car comes out and something like that and that can give you an opportunity to fit new tyres, whatever, and score points. So I don’t think that changes the mindset as a driver. Just never give up ‘til the chequered flag.
It is more challenging, more stress. But I see the point of doing it.
When I was out of the sport in those two years and I was at home, I was not watching the practice. And I have to be honest, they were just too long and boring. I knew what the people were doing, which you never know at home, how many kilos of fuel they have, what engine map, all these things. It was not interesting.
So I see the point of making something that it was different on the weekend. So we have to embrace that. We have to help F1 and hopefully the fans will give us good feedback on the weekend.
But it’s more stressful, especially Saturday. I think Friday we are used to this new sprint format also last year that we only have one practice, so this is challenging for the teams. In one practice you need to set up the car for the whole weekend and then you go into quali.
But the really different thing now is Saturday where we have breakfast, we go in the car, we tight the belts and we are in the Q1. This is completely new because even in the past that I was doing one qualifying on Friday, one on Saturday – back in 2004, 2006 or whatever – we had always practice before qualifying. So it was FP1 or FP3 or whatever. Now we don’t have any practice and we’re going to qualifying one. So it’s stressful for sure and more difficult for drivers.
Nico Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg enjoys having less time to prepare
[It’s a] premiere, for me. I haven’t done a sprint race yet, but I guess in some ways it’s similar to all the ‘super sub’ races I did – not much prep time and straight into it.
I actually kind of like that, thinking back to junior times where practice is very limited and then go into a meaningful session. This weekend we have four instead of two, so I think it’s going to be busy and intense as well. But I look forward to the challenge that brings
Kevin Magnussen
I think it’s exciting. You know, it will be only FP1 where you’re sort of just driving around and then all the other sessions there’s pressure on and it’s more exciting, I would say. It’s going to be even more important to hit the ground running in FP1. You’re not going to make big changes from FP1 to Quali. So it’s a bigger challenge, but it’s the same for everyone. So I feel it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to it.
Nyck de Vries
It’s a new format for me, a sprint event, so I’m quite looking forward to experience that. I think it will be exciting for everyone. Also qualifying on Saturday morning is quite short and punchy. We’ll have two races, so a lot of different track time.
It’s definitely exciting. Especially Saturday, just when you wake up and have breakfast, and you’re straight into qualifying, which is like, you have to really wake for qualifying. So it’s really exciting. I can’t wait.
Alexander Albon
The same teams will score points, Albon expects
There are four teams now that kind of regularly score points, and it’s the top eight that do score points in the sprint race, so it’s going to be one of those situations where I think you’re going to get quite a repetitive order in that sprint race: the same people scoring points.
Logan Sargeant
In my opinion, the format is better than what it previously was. I think from a personal point, again, it just gives me a chance to have two goes at it.
Obviously there’s more important points to the weekend but I think it’s a really good opportunity for me to keep building on my experiences. To be able to have two qualis is as huge for me and the sprint race will be a great chance for me to really prep for the GP on Sunday.
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Was this always just a backdoor way to 2 races a weekend? I watched only on of these and it was processional like a normal race, but wasn’t long enough to become interesting. Why are they changing the rules now? I don’t see how you fix a short race that will never develop into anything worth watching. At least I won’t be puzzled when the grid changes from qualifying to the Sunday race. Or will I? What a convoluted mess.
Wonder if all the adhd group that can’t watch more than a 5 minute highlight reel without getting bored will love all the carnage.
My guess is we’ll see a heap of drivers backing off and staying we’ll clear of the walls because there’s just not enough time for them to fine tune everything enough for them to flirt with being on the limit. Kinda ruins the whole point of a street circuit.
There’ll be a couple or more who will think their talent is much more than reality so expect a couple of totally destroyed cars, red flags and the usual interference by race control.
Will I watch it – nope. I’ve previously said that I won’t watch ANY part of a sprint abomination weekend because eyeballs is the only thing Liberty understand and no amount of tinkering will change that.
Was this always just a backdoor way to 2 races a weekend?
Doubtful, as they could have just done that and leveraged the strengths of a full GP from the get go, instead of souring a lot of (vocal) people on the concept with a contrived event.
Why are they changing the rules now?
It’s important to remember that while it became colloquially known as the ‘sprint race’, that’s not what it is. Or was, I guess. It was Sprint Qualifying. The idea being that a short ‘race’ would mix up the grid and make for a more interesting Grand Prix. (Plus it would give F1 two race events to sell, and even make Fridays interesting for TV with a quick grid deciding run.)
The problems with the idea that Sprint Qualifying is the climax of the whole Qualifying process for the Grand Prix are obvious. One, it’s not qualifying, it’s racing. So people were miffed that the fastest lap driver didn’t get the ‘pole’. Even without qualifying cars and setups, qualifying is still a separate skill that a lot of people appreciate. Two, the little race merely became the first part of a two-part race rather than the culmination of qualifying. Three, the grid was never going to be mixed up because the cars and drivers are still all the same, and giving teams more time, more sessions, more laps to decide the grid order will – if anything – do the opposite of mixing up the grid.
When I was out of the sport in those two years and I was at home, I was not watching the practice. And I have to be honest, they were just too long and boring.
Alonso’s honesty is wonderful. A painful truth, especially for many who simply refuse to be critical of F1’s silly traditions. F1 management and teams all too often forget that they are almost exclusively inside the bubble and have little (or no) perspective of how it is viewed from the outside.
If you get a penalty for actions in the sprintrace do you have to serve them in the real race on Sunday? F.i. five seconds penalty in the sprint race costs you less points then exactly the same action and penalty in the main event.
If Liberty sells F1, who is then going to buy it and will that party be any worse? That is the only question on my mind. I mean this is a terrible horrible owner, but there might be worse out there..
If F-1 are so hell bent on having their stars race on Saturday, why not create a series of races like the old IROC at certain tracks, where the driver’s, say those who are in the top ten of the F-1 points standings, go out and race in equal F-3 cars, or touring cars, or endurance prototypes, and race for a separate points championship. They get the star power, they get real racing, without taking the shine off the next day’s Formula One race. As it is, the sprint races are superfluous, just crowbarred in, and the teams have to feel like the extra work sooner or later will be too much to deal with. Max is right, the sprints are a distraction from the main event. This way, it’s great fun, great entertainment, the pressure is off the driver’s not to wreck their F-1 ride, and just go out there and have fun/do their best.
Nikos (@exeviolthor)
28th April 2023, 7:51
It is really nice of FIA to try to fix something which should not have been introduced in the first place.
Darryn Smith (@darryn)
28th April 2023, 8:03
Was this always just a backdoor way to 2 races a weekend? I watched only on of these and it was processional like a normal race, but wasn’t long enough to become interesting. Why are they changing the rules now? I don’t see how you fix a short race that will never develop into anything worth watching. At least I won’t be puzzled when the grid changes from qualifying to the Sunday race. Or will I? What a convoluted mess.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
28th April 2023, 9:11
@darryn it certainly seems that way.
Wonder if all the adhd group that can’t watch more than a 5 minute highlight reel without getting bored will love all the carnage.
My guess is we’ll see a heap of drivers backing off and staying we’ll clear of the walls because there’s just not enough time for them to fine tune everything enough for them to flirt with being on the limit. Kinda ruins the whole point of a street circuit.
There’ll be a couple or more who will think their talent is much more than reality so expect a couple of totally destroyed cars, red flags and the usual interference by race control.
Will I watch it – nope. I’ve previously said that I won’t watch ANY part of a sprint abomination weekend because eyeballs is the only thing Liberty understand and no amount of tinkering will change that.
MichaelN
28th April 2023, 14:54
Doubtful, as they could have just done that and leveraged the strengths of a full GP from the get go, instead of souring a lot of (vocal) people on the concept with a contrived event.
It’s important to remember that while it became colloquially known as the ‘sprint race’, that’s not what it is. Or was, I guess. It was Sprint Qualifying. The idea being that a short ‘race’ would mix up the grid and make for a more interesting Grand Prix. (Plus it would give F1 two race events to sell, and even make Fridays interesting for TV with a quick grid deciding run.)
The problems with the idea that Sprint Qualifying is the climax of the whole Qualifying process for the Grand Prix are obvious. One, it’s not qualifying, it’s racing. So people were miffed that the fastest lap driver didn’t get the ‘pole’. Even without qualifying cars and setups, qualifying is still a separate skill that a lot of people appreciate. Two, the little race merely became the first part of a two-part race rather than the culmination of qualifying. Three, the grid was never going to be mixed up because the cars and drivers are still all the same, and giving teams more time, more sessions, more laps to decide the grid order will – if anything – do the opposite of mixing up the grid.
Jere (@jerejj)
28th April 2023, 8:10
I pretty much share all views.
Simon
28th April 2023, 12:46
https://y.yarn.co/81f6f547-861b-4891-b6aa-d9d553cd2b39_text.gif
S
28th April 2023, 8:26
Alonso’s honesty is wonderful. A painful truth, especially for many who simply refuse to be critical of F1’s silly traditions.
F1 management and teams all too often forget that they are almost exclusively inside the bubble and have little (or no) perspective of how it is viewed from the outside.
Pjotr (@pietkoster)
28th April 2023, 8:44
If you get a penalty for actions in the sprintrace do you have to serve them in the real race on Sunday? F.i. five seconds penalty in the sprint race costs you less points then exactly the same action and penalty in the main event.
MichaelN
28th April 2023, 14:58
They are separate events and the penalties will be applied to the result of the sprint event.
Mayrton
28th April 2023, 9:59
If Liberty sells F1, who is then going to buy it and will that party be any worse? That is the only question on my mind. I mean this is a terrible horrible owner, but there might be worse out there..
Ajaxn
28th April 2023, 16:05
What about parc ferme rules? Im guessing its been waved for this sprint weekend.
Ralph
28th April 2023, 18:12
If F-1 are so hell bent on having their stars race on Saturday, why not create a series of races like the old IROC at certain tracks, where the driver’s, say those who are in the top ten of the F-1 points standings, go out and race in equal F-3 cars, or touring cars, or endurance prototypes, and race for a separate points championship. They get the star power, they get real racing, without taking the shine off the next day’s Formula One race. As it is, the sprint races are superfluous, just crowbarred in, and the teams have to feel like the extra work sooner or later will be too much to deal with. Max is right, the sprints are a distraction from the main event. This way, it’s great fun, great entertainment, the pressure is off the driver’s not to wreck their F-1 ride, and just go out there and have fun/do their best.