F1 insist it "critical" grand prix preserved in face of new sprint plan

Formula 1

F1 insist it "critical" grand prix preserved in face of new sprint plan

Format will be known as 'sprint qualifying'

Ian Parkes

Saturday 13 March 2021 16:14

Ross Brawn is adamant Formula 1's planned sprint race will not devalue a grand prix, insisting it is "critical" the integrity of the race is preserved.

F1's managing director motorsports Brawn has confirmed the three-race trial format will be known as 'sprint qualifying', with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to discuss the matter with team bosses on Saturday evening.

One of the over-riding concerns for F1 is that a grand prix victory on Sunday does not lose its meaning for all involved, which is why the planned points system will only reward the top-three finishers.

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GPFans Global understands the scoring system will be a simple three points for the winner, two for the runner-up and one for third.

The new weekend proposal is set to be trialled at the British, Italian and Brazilian GPs.

"The critical thing is to preserve the grand prix," said Brawn, speaking to Sky Sports F1.

"We want the winner of the grand prix to come away from those weekends still being the strongest and most successful competitor of that weekend.

"But we want to pad out the weekend, and we want to give the fans something more substantial to look at and follow on a Friday, something interesting on a Saturday.

"So as well as a sprint qualifying, we will have the normal qualifying on a Friday where you qualify for your position in the sprint qualifying, and then in sprint qualifying [the finishing position] you will take it forward to the race.

"So really we have a much fuller weekend, and that's what we want to explore. We want this opportunity to try it at three races this year, and if it doesn't work, then we'll put our hands up and we'll go away and think about it again.

"But I'm quite optimistic about it. I think if you take the view of the whole weekend, then it's got a lot going for it."

F1 is hoping that for race promoters there will be an increase in attendances, while television viewing figures will also significantly improve.