Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1?

ZenMaster · 1st May 2021, 09:03

The biggest issue is the points scheme. Only the top 3 gets any points. This will mean that other than the top 5 or 6, it might be just a procession with the drivers and teams taking the least risk and making sure they bring the car back in 1 piece with little to no damage. Basically making this a 100 lap race simulation mostly for Sunday.

This would have been a good opportunity to allow teams down the field get WC points. They should award points to the Top 15. But the increase in points between ranks should decrease as we go up the ladder. (So maybe a 15 points jump between 15th and 14th rank and maybe just a 1 point increase between 1st and 2nd.

This will incentivise lower teams to go all out for a good haul of points that would otherwise be extremely difficult for them and produce excellent racing in the midfield.

This also ensures that points difference between Top teams will be kept close and since the championship is close they can't let other teams win either.

The only otherway I see this being more exciting/worthwhile is to race the reserve/junior/ test drivers and give them a separate sprint Championship. (Maybe 8 to 10 races in a year.)

This will mean that the Constructors can get their points but Drivers World Championships are unaffected and will be decided only on a Sunday and we get to see new talent in their element.

H0RSEPOWER · 1st May 2021, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by slicvic

Very Interesting.

I hope minimal points are given to the first 3 places of Saturday too

Yes, there will be points on Saturday sprint qualifying also. 1st car gets 3 points, 2nd gets 2 & 3rd gets 1 point. So basically three drivers would start with some points even before the beginning of the actual race itself!

rahulcmoulee · 1st May 2021, 10:40

I think this was done with more of a commercial interest in mind rather than mixing up the grid. It gives us competitive action on all 3 days of the weekend, which will compel people to tune in. And who knows, some incident in the sprint session could cause a mixed up grid. It is good that they are trying something new and we don't lose anything by trialing this format in 3 races. If it works well, it could become a mainstay.

Swaraj65 · 1st May 2021, 10:54

Intresting format

Kind of on a fence about this format need to watch it in action before commenting on it. In f2 it is fun to watch don't know if it will work in f1. I think drivers would be a lot conservative as not to crash and start from the back of grid on Sunday.
Sliverstone is not that far away so will get our answer's rather quickly

sgiitk · 1st May 2021, 11:08

Is the F1 circus so short of ideas? I see no point in the 100km format. Are we reverting to the old one part qualifying? Looks like it.

veedub89 · 1st May 2021, 11:31

Don't like the idea that much because honestly I don't think it will have much of an impact on the starting grid will line up. The faster teams will remain fast, the slower ones will remain slow.

Having said that, I like that the FIA acknowledges that it has a problem and is looking for ways to fix it.

I remember the older quali format from 10 years (?) ago.
It wasn't the most exciting way over its entire course, but the last 10mins were brilliant. I felt the guys who were not so good with banging out one lap got the opportunity to get their head in and manage to get progressively good times at the end of the session.

Not sure if this is the right solution but can't wait for it to happen.

sen2693 · 1st May 2021, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRJ

1. This provides a fairer chance to the drivers.

I have a contrary opinion. Sometimes, drivers like Bottas/RB 2nd driver end up in P6, P7 or Mclarens/AMs end up outside top 10. Give them a 100km race and come Sunday they will start in their usual range (P3-P4 for Mercs/RBs), P7-10 for AMs/Mclarens.

Just bring the cars closer and let them race

Sudarshan42 · 1st May 2021, 17:40

While this will give us an extra day of viewership, qualifying is basically rendered useless now, as some of you have pointed out already. The sprint race itself is about a third of the normal length, so I don't think the novelty of the main race is going to go away, especially with pit strategies not being a part of the sprint race. Should be an out and out run to the line, with the new-age Maldonados (cough Mazepin cough) potentially playing a role in wrecking someone's Sunday

Karun Chandhok has stated that it's a half-hearted compromise, with the big cars in the best position again- to that I say so what? This is F1, of course the fastest cars are best placed to win! This is exactly why the inverted grid option was shot down almost universally. The only way the smaller teams can close the gap would be with the cost cap that's been in place this year, will take a few more years to really see its efficacy.

Bring on the new format, always fun to see something fresh and intense!

1st May 2021, 09:03	#16
ZenMaster BHPian Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Kottayam Posts: 500 Thanked: 2,057 Times	Re: Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1? The biggest issue is the points scheme. Only the top 3 gets any points. This will mean that other than the top 5 or 6, it might be just a procession with the drivers and teams taking the least risk and making sure they bring the car back in 1 piece with little to no damage. Basically making this a 100 lap race simulation mostly for Sunday. This would have been a good opportunity to allow teams down the field get WC points. They should award points to the Top 15. But the increase in points between ranks should decrease as we go up the ladder. (So maybe a 15 points jump between 15th and 14th rank and maybe just a 1 point increase between 1st and 2nd. This will incentivise lower teams to go all out for a good haul of points that would otherwise be extremely difficult for them and produce excellent racing in the midfield. This also ensures that points difference between Top teams will be kept close and since the championship is close they can't let other teams win either. The only otherway I see this being more exciting/worthwhile is to race the reserve/junior/ test drivers and give them a separate sprint Championship. (Maybe 8 to 10 races in a year.) This will mean that the Constructors can get their points but Drivers World Championships are unaffected and will be decided only on a Sunday and we get to see new talent in their element.
	() Thanks

1st May 2021, 10:40	#18
rahulcmoulee BHPian Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 299 Thanked: 988 Times View My Garage	Re: Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1? I think this was done with more of a commercial interest in mind rather than mixing up the grid. It gives us competitive action on all 3 days of the weekend, which will compel people to tune in. And who knows, some incident in the sprint session could cause a mixed up grid. It is good that they are trying something new and we don't lose anything by trialing this format in 3 races. If it works well, it could become a mainstay.
	() Thanks

1st May 2021, 10:54	#19
Swaraj65 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Thane Posts: 5 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1? Intresting format Kind of on a fence about this format need to watch it in action before commenting on it. In f2 it is fun to watch don't know if it will work in f1. I think drivers would be a lot conservative as not to crash and start from the back of grid on Sunday. Sliverstone is not that far away so will get our answer's rather quickly
	() Thanks

1st May 2021, 11:08	#20
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,796 Times	Re: Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1? Is the F1 circus so short of ideas? I see no point in the 100km format. Are we reverting to the old one part qualifying? Looks like it.
	() Thanks

1st May 2021, 11:31	#21
veedub89 BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 523 Thanked: 1,086 Times	Re: Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1? Don't like the idea that much because honestly I don't think it will have much of an impact on the starting grid will line up. The faster teams will remain fast, the slower ones will remain slow. Having said that, I like that the FIA acknowledges that it has a problem and is looking for ways to fix it. I remember the older quali format from 10 years (?) ago. It wasn't the most exciting way over its entire course, but the last 10mins were brilliant. I felt the guys who were not so good with banging out one lap got the opportunity to get their head in and manage to get progressively good times at the end of the session. Not sure if this is the right solution but can't wait for it to happen.
	() Thanks

1st May 2021, 17:40	#23
Sudarshan42 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 309 Thanked: 1,316 Times	Re: Thoughts on the new Sprint Qualifying Format for Formula 1? While this will give us an extra day of viewership, qualifying is basically rendered useless now, as some of you have pointed out already. The sprint race itself is about a third of the normal length, so I don't think the novelty of the main race is going to go away, especially with pit strategies not being a part of the sprint race. Should be an out and out run to the line, with the new-age Maldonados (cough Mazepin cough) potentially playing a role in wrecking someone's Sunday Karun Chandhok has stated that it's a half-hearted compromise, with the big cars in the best position again- to that I say so what? This is F1, of course the fastest cars are best placed to win! This is exactly why the inverted grid option was shot down almost universally. The only way the smaller teams can close the gap would be with the cost cap that's been in place this year, will take a few more years to really see its efficacy. Bring on the new format, always fun to see something fresh and intense!
	() Thanks