There are two significant changes in the Formula 1 sprint format. They come into effect in the Baku street race.
Formula 1 resumes after a month’s break this coming weekend at the street circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. There are significant reforms, as the sprint format run during the weekend has undergone major changes.
Sprint races run a few times a season have been in use since 2021. The sprint race on Saturday has previously dictated the starting order of the main race normally held on Sunday. Starting next weekend, however, the results of the sprint will have no bearing on the order in which we start Sunday’s race.
The international automobile association FIA announced the change on Tuesday. The time trial is run in the typical way of a sprint weekend on Friday and it determines the starting order of Sunday’s race. Before qualifying on Friday, the only free practices will be run.
Another significant change is that the practice session on Saturday before the sprint race will be cancelled. In its place is a shortened time trial that determines the starting order for the sprint race. The sprint format is therefore its own competition from now on.
In the normal time trial system, the first section lasts 18 minutes, the second 15, and the third and pole-deciding section lasts ten minutes. In sprint times, the corresponding durations are 12, ten and eight minutes. In addition, new tires must be used in each section.
Never before in formula one have there been two qualifying sessions during the same weekend.
Better racing
Like last year, points for the sprint race will be awarded to the eight best drivers. The driver who crossed the checkered flag first gets eight points, and the driver who crossed the checkered flag one point. In the 2021 season, only the three fastest drivers received sprint points.
The sprint format has therefore been taking shape a lot in the last couple of years. A couple of years ago, the winner of the sprint recorded the pole position of the weekend.
Last season, the pole position was awarded to the driver who won the sprint weekend time trial. In the past, sprint races have been criticized for the fact that the drivers do not dare to take risks in them considering the layout of the main race. With the new decision, the aim is for drivers to dare to drive more seriously in sprints.
The other sprint races of the season will be held in Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin in the USA and Brazil.