F1 bosses to discuss shorter 'sprint' races in place of qualifying to increase entertainment

Cars on a Formula 1 grid — 'Sprint' races might be used more widely in 2022 if successful

Formula 1 bosses are to discuss a new proposal to introduce shorter 'sprint' races in an attempt to increase entertainment levels this season.

Teams and bosses will vote on Thursday on a plan for a shorter race on Saturday, which would define the grid for Sunday's grand prix.

Qualifying for the Saturday race would take place on Friday.

The top eight drivers in the 'sprint' race would earn approximately half the points awarded for the grand prix.

The 'sprint' race would be about 100km - a third the length of a grand prix - and would replace qualifying, which takes place on Saturday afternoon or evening.

Qualifying for the sprint race would replace second practice, which is on Friday afternoon or evening.

The plan - the latest in a series of attempts to introduce sprint races in some form on Saturdays - is to be discussed at a meeting of the F1 Commission of senior figures.

To be passed, it needs a total of 28 out of 30 votes. Governing body the FIA and commercial rights holder F1 have 10 each, and the 10 teams one apiece.

Previous plans have not received the necessary support but this one has dropped the proposal for a reverse grid for the sprint race. Mercedes, who blocked the plan for a reverse-grid sprint race, are said to be open-minded on the new proposal.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali said in a news conference last week: "Reverse grid is over. It's important to think of new ideas of being more attractive or interesting but we don't have to lose the traditional approach of racing.

"When we changed qualifying every couple of days [at the start of 2016], it burned our fingers. Now, the formula is quite stable. We are looking at what could be the approach of the so-called sprint race on Saturday. We are thinking that could be tested maybe this year."

Three races have been chosen as potential venues for a trial this year on the basis that they should provide fast and exciting racing - Canada, Italy and Brazil.

If they were a success, the idea would be used more widely in 2022.

F1 hopes the idea would raise interest for the audience, as Friday practice sessions tend only to be watched by avid fans.

The plan should be seen as part of a wider attempt by F1 to increase the value of the business significantly over the next five years.

However, it remains to be seen whether teams will accept the idea.

One potential sticking point is that, according to sources, F1 is proposing only an extra $75,000 (£55,000) per team per race to cover the new approach.

This is nowhere near enough to cover the costs of any damage to cars in the shorter race - a front wing alone can cost as much as $200,000.

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25 comments

How about Friday qualifying deciding grids for 2 races, short and long? Still not great, but a bit better than this.

But over 40 races a year is daft.
Worst idea ever - the potential for collisions is alarming, drivers determined to get the best possible starting place on the grid.
Notice how we only had 1 or 2 "DULL" races this season... and funnily enough they were all on tilke-drome tracks. Didn't get boring races on the old school or recently added old-school tracks, did we!?

Shame they reverted this season back to the usual. Last season was great despite Merc's dominance. Also a team outside the top 3 got some wins !
It's bad enough (on some circuits, in a full race) trying to overtake another car - as it might take a few laps of "pressure" to force another driver to make a mistake or to line one self up to make a pass - but how easy is it going to be on a 1/3 distance Sprint?

They might be better off doing as Touring cars and adding weights to the cars to make them more evenly matched.
It’s best car wins. How about all drivers in the same cars, then it’s best driver wins.
How about have tracks with river crossings, a cliff edge, herds of wandering sheep, bridges with gaps you have to jump over, and if that fails, how about having the quicker cars going one way round the track, and all the others going round in the opposite direction...at the same time. And if that fails, you could always tie Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt to a steak...in the middle of the track
How does this align with the proposed budget cap? If you blow an engine in the sprint race is that part of the overall allocation of power units for the season? I like the idea but don’t see it working from a financial standpoint.
I like that they are at least trying to resolve the issue of dull races, of which they’re were a couple last season.

But really, that is down to one thing. The tracks. Yas Marina, Paul Ricard, and date is day it, Monaco are amongst some of the worst race weekends on the calendar.

The ‘wildcard’ effect we had with tracks this year created some brilliant races. More of that please!
I would like to see qualifying revert to the way it was in the past. 1 hr, as many laps as you like. go! but I think the points system needs a major overhaul. Assuming 20 cars start I would give 20 points for a win, 19 for 2nd, 18 for 3rd etc.. all the way down to 1pt for last. plus an additional point for pole and an additional point for fastest lap.
I wish that the powers that be would stop asking nearby 7 year olds for new ideas. We had some great racing at some older and some novel tracks last year and what do they do? They bring back Monaco.

It's almost as if they don't know what to do other than bring money into the sport.
they should try out reverse grid even just for 1 race!
Sounds like a drag.
Good idea, take the most exciting part of the weekend with the cars at their fastest and replace it.......
that they are even considering these gimmicks, shows it needs a refresh, but the ideas fowarded so far are rubbish. get an adult in charge
I think the introduction of Dick Dastardly and Muttley would greatly increase the entertainment.
No thank you, no fake manufactured racing in F1, the pinnacle of motorsport. You get to the front on merit (or sometimes a slice of good fortune/timing), but never stick the slowest to the front just to watch them get overtaken. Nonsense.
That’s what happens when you let the Yanks in a sport, there’s nothing wrong with the way the sport runs now.
Not sure this is the answer but for sure they need to shake something up. Of course Mercedes back it now. They would have to fancy themselves in a sprint or any other format right now!
this will put smaller teams out of business. 1 wrecked car in the sprint will mean a massive bill and even the possibility of not racing on the sunday, chances of crashing are higher in the sprint race due to its nature - short fast .
Would there be additional engine and other parts available, how would this work at a track with very difficult overtaking? Monaco for example