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F1 considers more points for sprint race, but no role as 'qualifier'

F1 considers more points for sprint race, but no role as 'qualifier'

10-09-2021 09:57 Last update: 11:46
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GPblog.com

Another sprint race is scheduled this weekend, having previously debuted in Formula 1 at Silverstone. However, Ross Brawn and his team are looking at the possibility of organising this race separately from the main race on Sunday in 2022.

The sprint race is an idea from Formula 1 to make the race weekend a little more interesting. Now, a race weekend consists of three practice sessions, where nothing is really at stake, before a qualifying session and a race. The sprint race will make for a slightly busier schedule, with just two practice sessions, a qualifying session before the sprint race, and the sprint race itself serving as a qualifying session for the main race on Sunday.

Qualifying more important again?

Although the format has only been tested once, Formula 1 is, according to Motorsport.com Formula 1 is already looking at new possibilities. Now the sprint race has a lot of influence on Sunday's race. If you crash like Sergio Perez did at Silverstone, your complete race on Sunday is lost. Brawn wants to find a solution for that.

''I think we need to look at the points that are handed out now, but also how we determine the starting grid. Should that maybe just happen on Friday? We have to decide if maybe we want Friday's qualifying to count towards the qualifying race and the main race,'' says Brawn.

F1 looking for ideal format

In that way, qualifying would again be leading for pole position. The qualifying race would then be an extra part of the entire event, for which extra points could be scored. The question is whether such a race weekend would result in two races of equal value, and would not detract from the main race. According to Brawn, all options are still open.

''There are a number of things we can do, and a number of ways we can do it. So I think that's being looked at at the moment. There are some ideas, and we will present them to the FIA and the teams and go from there,'' Brawn concludes.