Formula 1 will attempt a sprint race for the first time at the British Grand Prix this weekend, using the grid for the main event on Sunday, and drivers have their reservations about how it will proceed.
The The starting order for the sprint – as the 100 km race is called – is defined by a normal qualifying on Friday evening, then there are 17 laps in which the drivers can fight for places or their starting position on Saturday afternoon, finishing job that includes the starting field for the Silverstone Grand Prix.
It is a new concept for many drivers, especially for those who – like Sebastian Vettel – did not drive in Formula 2 (or its previous GP form) and therefore not current Have experience with sprint races. But for Vettel it’s actually the effects on the rest of the weekend that he’s looking forward to.
« It’s going to be a little strange, isn’t it? » said Vettel. « We have reached one-hour training units, which I really like in the end, because we hang out less in the garage and have more action on the track, which is what we prefer.
» Now there is an hour and that’s it – right away into qualifying. So we have to be clear from the start and it should be exciting. It’s something new and it’s always exciting. We’ll see how it turns out. Lots of unknowns, but we’ll try. ”
Like Vettel, Carlos Sainz is driving his new team at Silverstone for the first time after a winter change, and that increases the pressure on FP1, which leads into qualifying. At least qualifying is simplified a bit – all drivers have to use the softest tire compound throughout – but the pace of one lap alone will not be enough to secure a good starting position, as poor racing performance makes a team vulnerable in a sprint.
“It will certainly not be easy,” says Sainz, “there is a lot of discussion about the strategy and the approach to the weekend. It’s been an intense couple of weeks in Maranello just to find out how the system works and how it will work. It definitely gave us a little extra work and thought.
“That’s good, because sometimes everything gets a bit too monotonous at 22 or 23 races. Throwing at least this type of curveball or weekend format is refreshing and allows us to play around with strategy a little more. But from a driver’s point of view, I don’t think that will change massively. Just a qualifying with less practice may not help me as I wasn’t at Silverstone with Ferrari – just a practice to prepare, but full throttle and let’s see how it goes. ”
Sainz says full throttle, but it does gives unknowns about how ready the teams will be to launch the attack. No mandatory pit stop, which means the quickest way to the end could involve pace management and the wear and tear of the car’s components.
How aggressive are midfielders going to want to be in the sprint with no likely points available? Andy Hone / Motorsport-Bilder)
« From a driver’s point of view and how aggressive we can be, we will understand before the sprint, » says Daniel Ricciardo. “It’s getting a lot shorter, so we can do the whole race 100% or do we have to deal with tires and things like that? That will dictate the pace or aggression towards this Sprint Qualifying. These are things that we will discover over the course of the weekend. ”
Refreshingly, Max looks alike Verstappen. The leader of the table could be forgiven for not wanting to throw curveballs after three straight wins – and four out of five when Red Bull makes its run – but instead he is open to the new format as it gives three extra points for the Winner bids, two for second and one for third.
« I’m neither for nor against right now, I’ll just let it happen and see how it develops, » said Verstappen. “For the race you try to win it. There are three extra points to get, so make sure you try to win even though you know it is the most important race on a Sunday. We have to do such a weekend first, then we can assess everything correctly. ”
Since only the top three score points, there is more risk than reward for those who are further down the field, which Vettel recognizes is one Consideration for the midfielders.
« It depends on the gaps, » says the four-time world champion. “If everyone moves aside, I’ll go into the gap and try to fit. But ideally I would start from pole … I don’t know, would you call that Pole? Friday evening, fastest lap …
“Ideally, lap one is where you take the opportunity to make up some positions, and sometimes it works your way, sometimes it doesn’t. I think the key is to finish the race or you’ll end up last on Sunday. ”
Regarding Vettel’s final comment, sources in the paddock suggest that the teams further down the field are actually less risky would. Because with smaller budgets you cannot afford excessive damage in a pointless race and a better starting position could quickly be destroyed by the lack of strategic variation, whereby all drivers can freely choose their starting tires.
Parking to save kilometers, is a possibility, but unlikely, in the case of incidents that bring a free win, but as Vettel points out, the penalty for the starting line-up on Sunday is high if something goes wrong. If nothing else, it creates a hazard that you wouldn’t see in a practice session.
« Honestly, knowing the F1 drivers and how we behave, I think that in the first 6-7- Corners won’t think about Sunday much, ”says Carlos Sainz. Steven Tee / Motorsport Bilder
But the predicted salvation for the sprint is that there will also be a standing start in which many positions can be made up early.
« You try to follow a uniform approach, but sometimes it matters where you are on the grid, ”Ricciardo admits. « If you start at the top end, you might be a little … I don’t want to say, careful, but don’t take too many unnecessary risks, but when you’re a little further back, you see it as an opportunity to try and make a profit. » get a handful of places on the grid.
« The first few laps this year were pretty good and the starts were pretty good too, so I assume we’ll have the chance to have two races this weekend and continue from there . I’m excited. It is good that we are experimenting and trying to improve the sport. Whether it’s great now doesn’t mean it can’t be bigger. ”
And Sainz warns that predictions when the visor is closed are often wrong because racing drivers still act instinctively in the battle for position.
« To be honest, since we know the F1 drivers and our behavior during starts and laps, I think that in the first 6-7 corners we won’t think much about Sunday, » said Sainz. « At least I do. I think I’ll just do it. But when the race has calmed down, we think about Sunday.« Just my personal point of view, I don’t think that before Turn 3 I will think: ‘Oh, the race is tomorrow’ because I’m racing. That’s how I see it. «
Let’s hope that on Saturday it is the racers who prevail, because the more action we have in the sprint, the more likely it is that we will have a mixed up field and more the next day Get drama.
Chris trained in the British Grand Prix while studying sports journalism at the University of Central Lancashire in 2008 and was hired for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three years at ESPN, a time as F1 editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the main task of starting the English language website of F1i.com and operating it as editor.
He has been present at every race since the beginning of 2014 and continues to expand his freelance portfolio and work with international titles. In addition to writing for RACER, he contributes to BBC 5Live and Sky Sports in the UK and works with titles in Japan and the Middle East.
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