F1 introduces changes to the Sprint Race. Image: Max Verstappen/Twitter
Formula 1 confirms Sprint Race changes
Max Verstappen won’t be too happy over the Sprint Race changes after threatening to quit the sport if more changes are made.
F1 introduces changes to the Sprint Race. Image: Max Verstappen/Twitter
Formula 1 has confirmed adjustments to the F1 Sprint format for the six events that will be staged across the 2023 season.
The first Sprint Race will take place this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
F1 Sprint made its debut back in 2021, with the original format seeing qualifying shifted to Friday and setting the grid for a new 100-kilometre dash on Saturday, which in turn determined the starting order for the main event on Sunday.
However, tweaks for this year mean F1 Sprint will effectively become a standalone feature of race weekends when the format is used – with the outcome bearing no impact on the grid for the Grand Prix itself.
ALSO READ: Max Verstappen threatens to quit F1
Two-time World Champions Max Verstappen won’t be too happy over the Sprint Race changes after threatening to quit the sport if more changes are made.
Fridays will now include an FP1 session and standard qualifying session to set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, while Saturdays will include the continuing 100km race with an additional, preceding qualifying session called the ‘Sprint Shootout’.’
ALSO READ: Frustrated Max Verstappen bullish about Saudi Arabia recovery
The first Sprint Race takes place this Saturday
The shootout will be a shorter session than traditional qualifying, with SQ1 set to run for 12 minutes, SQ2 for 10 minutes and SQ3 for eight minutes, and replaces the previous FP2 seen on the Saturday morning of Sprint weekends. New tyres are mandatory for each phase, with mediums for SQ1 and SQ2, and softs for SQ3.
Given that the F1 Sprint is now contained within the race weekend, and any incidents will not compromise starting positions for the Grand Prix, drivers should have more incentive to push across the 100km race, which usually lasts around half an hour.
ALSO READ | Formula One: Every world champion to date
Points for the F1 Sprint race remain the same, with eight handed out to the winner, seven to second place, six to third and so on down to one in eighth – both drivers and teams will log points in their respective championships.
There’s 20 races remaining this season
In addition to Azerbaijan’s Baku City Circuit, the other F1 Sprint venues for 2023 are Austria (Red Bull Ring), Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps), Qatar (Lusail Circuit), the United States (Circuit of The Americas) and Sao Paulo (Interlagos).
