New sprint format tests drivers especially on Saturday

A new weekend schedule applies this GP weekend in Azerbaijan's Baku. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is already preparing for an intense first session on Saturday. Direct qualifying on Saturday is something F1 drivers are not used to.

A free practice will be run on Friday before the first qualifying session of the weekend. An hour of preparation and then the starting grid for Sunday's race will be determined. According to Sainz, Saturday will be the latest and greatest challenge of the weekend. Indeed, that day starts right on edge with qualifying.

Motorsport.com quotes the Spaniard: "It's going to be difficult. Especially waking up in the morning and going into Q1 straight away." Qualifying is already the most intense session of the weekend for drivers as the car is set up at its lightest and fastest. Drivers do not have to consider tyre wear and batteries.

Without exploratory metres in the car, Sainz says it could be challenging. Preparations during his morning must therefore be well accomplished. Fellow countryman Fernando Alonso also sees a weekend ahead with more stress especially on Saturday.