F1 considering Saturday sprint races to set grid - report

Formula 1 have proposed adding a sprint race to the Saturday schedule of events, which will set the order for grands prix, according to a report in Auto Motor und Sport. The report suggests F1 hope that a shake-up of the weekend schedule could lead to renewed interest in the sport.

It is claimed that Twenty20 cricket's popularity has prompted Liberty Media into rethinking how an F1 weekend looks.

A proposal was reportedly put to teams saw Friday's practice sessions cut to an hour in length, while open scrutineering on the same day would also give fans the chance to see the inner workings of F1's machines up close.

Saturday's FP3 would be completely abolished and, although the traditional qualifying session would remain, this would instead determine the order for a 100-kilometre sprint race - where restrictions on tyres and fuel would be abolished, giving teams a chance to race flat-out.

The result of the sprint race would then decide the grid for the grand prix, where normal rules would return.

Initial plans to start the grand prix with the reverse order of the sprint race were dismissed as teams feared it would make thrills and spills too "artificial", claims the report.

Auto Motor und Sport claim that the Saturday sprint race would be deliberately timed to avoid clashing with football in major European leagues. The bulk of Premier League and Bundesliga matches kick-off in the mid-afternoon of Saturdays each weekend.