Marko predicts team changes: 'There's very little time on Friday'

Formula 1 has chosen to test with a sprint race during three weekends this season. Helmut Marko doesn't know yet if it will work, but he states that teams will have to adapt to this.

Sprint races in F1

In 2021 there will be three race weekends where a sprint race will be held on Saturday. In Silverstone, Monza and one Grand Prix yet to be named. Qualifying will take place on Friday, after which the sprint race on Saturday will determine the starting grid for the main race on Sunday. On Saturday, however, there are now points to be distributed.

''We will only know if it works after those three tests. If this system doesn't work, Formula 1 will revert to the old format. We are open to give the format with a sprint race a chance. My strategists have told me that this makes sense. In the end they also helped to design this in cooperation with engineers from other teams'', says Marko to Sport1.de.

Three extra points

''The teams have to think about everything again. There's very little time left for the long runs on Friday, so you really have to do everything to be optimally ready for qualifying. After qualifying, there is not much left to do because of the Parc Fermé rules.''

So during these three race weekends it's a little different to what the teams are used to, but in the end Marko says it's all about collecting as many points as possible. "Of course it is important to get the maximum of 29 points out of that race weekend. Three more than usual'', concludes Red Bull Racing's top man.