Carlos Sainz wants to shake up race weekends with unpopular idea

17:15, 03 Nov

Updated: 17:24, 03 Nov

byDrew Murphy

Carlos Sainz has revealed that he is open to switching up the format of Sprint weekends to improve and revitalise them after a series of flat events.

"One simple idea could be to make sure everyone does the Sprint race on soft tyres, which is a high-deg tyre."

- Carlos Sainz

Most drivers opt for the medium tyre for the Sprint, which has become one of the biggest criticisms of the event, as it replicates the start of the grand prix.

The Williams driver has suggested that all drivers should start on the soft tyre and potentially opt for trying out the idea of reversed grids.

carlos-sainz-alex-albon-mexican-grand-prix

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon at the Mexican Grand Prix. Photo: RacePictures

Sainz achieved Williams’ best-ever Sprint result in the United States, finishing third.

"You might get a wet race in Canada or a shower in Singapore, and it turns out to be the best Sprint in history.

"It's more the format change that I think is required for the Sprint, and I think Stefano is open to doing that.

"Right now, the Sprint, I'm not a big fan, because it unveils what the first thing stint on Sunday is going to be like, because qualifying is the same format as on Sundays. I would rather have different ideas around the Sprint, so it doesn't reveal so much about the race.

"One simple idea could be to make sure everyone does the Sprint race on soft tyres, which is a high-deg tyre.

"Normally, on a very few numbers of tracks, we choose the soft for the first stint of the race, and that could be a very easy, short-term solution, and also because we are throwing five sets of tyres in the bin.

"Every week, we put one lap on soft tyres in qualifying, and then we give them back, and I don't know where Pirelli stores them, but for us, it is a one-lap tyre, so that could be an easy fix.

"But probably it requires something a bit more spicy, and the Sprint race should be a bit more spicy, and it should be a good opportunity to maybe experiment with different formats, to be open-minded and if it works, great, and if it doesn't, change it again like we did in the past."

Carlos Sainz after his P3 at the United States Sprint. Photo: RacePictures

Are reverse grids the answer?

Of the four Sprint weekends so far this season, Max Verstappen has been victorious twice, and Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton have claimed the other two.

Sainz revealed despite not being keen on a reversed grid plan, he would not be totally against it for the Sprint weekends.

He said: "I am not a big fan of reversed grid, but I wouldn't be completely opposed to trying something different, and Sprint Qualifying could be different, with maybe a superpole in SQ3. You should just keep adding something different and keep trying different things.

"If it works, great, and it's better for the format, but if it doesn't, don't be scared to say, put it in the bin, acknowledge it didn't work, and try something different."

Two Sprint weekends remain on the calendar, the first being this weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, November 7-9.

The last is set to take place at the Qatar Grand Prix on November 28-30.

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