Formula One approves new standalone sprint format

London, April 25 (BNA): Saturday’s Formula 1 sprint races will become stand-alone events with a new ‘Shootout’ qualifying session to replace the final practice in the six-race Grand Prix in 2023, starting in Azerbaijan this weekend.

The FIA ​​Formula One committee, which includes 10 teams, voted unanimously for the change at a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday. Reuters reported that the decision was approved by electronic vote of the World Motor Sport Council.

The changes mean that qualifying on Friday, which comes after an hour-long opening practice session, will determine the grid for the main Grand Prix on Sunday rather than a race on Saturday.

There will be a half hour of qualifying for the “Sprint Shootout” on Saturday morning to determine the starting order for the 100 km sprint race of the same day, which provides points for the top eight finishers but no longer sets the grid for Sunday.

This qualifier will be divided into three parts, with the first stage lasting 12 minutes, the second lasting 10 minutes, and the last 10 minutes taking a penalty shootout.

Drivers will have to use new medium compound tires for the first two stages and soft tires for the third stage.

The change is intended to add excitement and “introduce more stakes”.

This could mean the drivers only have one lap to secure pole position in the final stage of qualifying, depending on the length of the track and traffic.

The number of sprints has doubled since its introduction last season.

Formula One argues that separating sprints from Sunday’s action will improve the show by allowing drivers to race freely without risking their starting position in a major Grand Prix.

Sports says TV viewing figures rose on Friday when there was competitive action to watch rather than just practice.

“The FP3 (third practice) session on Saturday morning became almost worthless because no one was watching and the teams couldn’t make any changes to the car apart from trying tires out of the race, so there was no real interest,” Haas team principal Ginter Steiner said. to Reuters last week.

“So I think this is a good addition to the weekend to have a sprint in qualifying.”

Aside from Baku, the other sprint races this season will be in Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Brazil.

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