The F1 Commission meeting at the Abu Dhabi finale has set the stage for a significant overhaul of the sprint race weekend format for 2024. This move, supported by stakeholders, is poised to redefine the dynamics of the grand prix, distinguishing the sprint activities more clearly from the main event.
The planned changes involve a reshuffling of the weekend schedule for the selected sprint events. The main alteration is moving the sprint qualifying to after Friday practice, with the sprint race itself slated for Saturday, right before the grand prix’s main qualifying session. This strategic change aims primarily to make the format less confusing for the fans.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella provided insight into the thinking behind these adjustments. “We think that some tuning in the sequence of the sessions, and some changes when it comes to the parc ferme rules is the right direction,” Stella stated.
Further innovation is still on the horizon. Christian Horner, the Red Bull team boss, is advocating for an even more radical change: a reverse sprint grid. Horner believes this could add more excitement to the sprint races, which are often seen as too predictable. “I think it needs a bit more work on it within the sporting forum,” Horner commented. “Then we’ll sit down at the next Commission meeting early in the new year and hopefully finalize a format.”
The retiring Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost, meanwhile, raised concerns about the impact of the current format on less experienced drivers. Tost is arguing for an extension of Friday free practice to 90 minutes, a critical factor in helping rookies cope with the hectic sprint weekends. He points out a crucial dilemma facing teams: “Without that change, [teams] will have to think very hard about whether to take a rookie driver or not.”
