The sprint qualifications at the heart of the debate

Indeed, many details are still unclear but we are gradually forming an idea of the modalities of this format. Firstly, the project is to organize a qualifying sprint race of one hundred kilometers, approximately one third of a classic Grand Prix, for the Silverstone, Monza, and Interlagos rounds this season. The aim is to assess its spectacular aspect both on the track and for television. The official name for these sprint races will be “qualification sprint” in order to reserve the term “race” for the Sunday Grand Prix and avoid creating confusion. This will take place on Saturday instead of the traditional qualifications, which will be moved to Friday.

Financial aspect

Many areas were still subjects of discussion, notably the financial aspect remained a topic to debate, as Christian Horner pointed out during the Bahrain Grand Prix. “There needs to be a reasonable allocation that takes that into account, as we are currently looking to save £10,000, £20,000 or even £30,000 to ensure compliance with the cap,” declared the director of the Austrian team. “Suddenly having such a factor is something that just requires an adjustment.”

Indeed, the bosses of Mercedes and Red Bull explained that the teams would need an additional 400 to 500,000 euros each due to the new budget cap rules to cover the extra cost of a sprint qualifying, all multiplied by three Saturdays this season.

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, replied: « The cost difference is not as great as claimed, […] there should be special exceptions to the $145 million budget cap for sprint qualifications or any other measure. He adds: « If we ask for compensation for everything we want to try, we will never be able to make it. We must not lose sight of the big picture. » Nevertheless, tensions now seem to have eased, and the first test of the format will indeed take place at Silverstone.

However, the Formula One Group has stated that teams will be compensated $500,000 each for testing this new race weekend format, and that additional funds will be provided in case of damage caused by an accident.

« We must not lose sight of the situation as a whole »

Find a consensus

After the team bosses’ meeting with the FIA and FOM in Bahrain, it was established that the top three of this sprint qualifying will respectively win 3, 2, and 1 point. However, no podium will be set up and the winner of the sprint qualifying will logically be designated as the poleman. An electronic vote is planned from now on. The Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, declared that he would probably vote for this change. We must be honest with ourselves and check the advantages and disadvantages of the format, both from a sporting and commercial point of view. And as Ross Brawn said, if we see that it does not add anything interesting, we will not continue down this path.

Other details of the format still need to reach a consensus. Indeed, there are questions about the changes to tire compounds and the idea of a DRS that could be activated with a two-second gap instead of one. Finally, there are questions about the effect of the format on the Park Fermé rules, which dictate when teams can make modifications to their cars or not.

Mattia Binotto, former technical director of Ferrari, added that the meeting between the teams and F1 regarding these plans was positive and does not think that the sticking points regarding the format will prevent its introduction this year.

He declares: « We are obviously happy to support the concept. There are still a few details to settle, on which we are discussing and working, but I don’t think they will be blocking. It is therefore only a matter of finalizing the proposal in all its aspects. But we are really working on it and we hope that it can be announced in the coming days. »

Simon Roberts, director of the Williams team, stated that his team also supported the idea. […] I think most of the technical aspects are more or less there. It was a positive meeting. We just wait to see what happens next.

This sprint qualification will indeed take place this season in Formula 1, a format that should live up to its promises, especially if agreements are found among all parties. Even the Colombian racing legend Juan Pablo Montoya told motorsport.com, “It seems to me that Formula 1 is talking about sprint races, and that’s the way to go.”

« It seems to me that Formula 1 is talking about sprint races, and that’s the way to go »