The
Sprint Race
came to
Formula 1
in 2021 with one purpose: to entertain and put on a show for the spectators during the three days of competition.
However, two seasons and six short races later, the organizers changed the
format
so that these special tests are independent and do not directly affect the Grand Prix on Sunday.
And its inauguration will be this Saturday, April 29, in the street of Baku.
Until last year, the Sprint Race ordered the starting grid of the race.
Now,
Friday's classification will be the one set by the Sunday grid
, while Saturday will be a day full of action: there will be a new classification called
Sprint Shootout
, exclusive for the short race that will take place that same day.
"It will reinforce the spectacle of sprint weekends and improve the action on the track for fans around the world," said the joint statement from the FIA and the promoter Formula One, three days before the first of the six sprint races of the season.
Then, it will be repeated in Austria (July 2), Belgium (July 30), Qatar (October 8), the United States (Austin, October 22) and Brazil (November 5).
According to the FIA, the new format
will "encourage the drivers to go full throttle on Saturday"
as they were not used to taking all the risks during the Sprint to secure their position at the start of the main race.
Likewise, the Sprint Race
will deliver the same points
as last year: only the first eight will score points.
"Trying to have something more dynamic during the weekend is a good decision
," Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari's new team boss, had stated during the Australian Grand Prix, where the teams validated the modification proposed by the FIA and Formula One. .
How is the new scheme of the weekends with Sprint Race?
George Russell, the last winner of a Sprint Race, last year at Interlagos.
Photo AP Photo/Marcelo Chello
The decision to make a Saturday independent of the Grand Prix caused the teams to have
only one test during the weekend
.
In this way,
Friday
will begin with practice 1 and continue with the classification -divided into the usual Q1, Q2 and Q3- that will make up the starting grid for Sunday's race.
On
Saturday
, meanwhile, there will be no second training session because that day will be entirely dedicated to the Sprint Race.
To determine the starting order for the short race,
Sprint Shootouts
were created .
What is it about?
Of a shorter classification than the traditional one, divided into SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 with a duration of 12, 10 and 8 minutes (compared to 18, 15 and 12).
In addition, for this classification the teams will have an obligation: to put medium tires
on the cars for the first and second part
of the Sprint Shootout and
red for the third
.
And they will only have a new set of tires for each segment.
By this, it is understood that they must make the best time on one lap.
Then, the short race will be held, 100 kilometers long, while on Sunday the long-awaited Grand Prix will be held.
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