Sprint format (2023)

[cplchanb]

they need to do something about this stupid format. locking in the setup after 1 hr does not help the race weekend. give them 2 hrs or have fp2 again like last year.

[the EDGE]

I've really enjoyed every sprint race we've had. I honestly don't care if some teams get the set-up wrong, that's on them.

Its 'fair' competition and that's what matters. Much better than watching practice. However I wouldn't object to a change to schedule to allow all sprint quali/race Friday evening/Saturday morning then allowing set-up changes for Main event quali/race Saturday PM/Sunday. In fact, its what I said the schedule should have been from inception

What I would hate is this idea that seems to be floating around again of reverse grids. I see no reason to have non-competitive sessions again, just for the sake of watching faster cars pass slower ones just to see some overtakes. I very much doubt I would bother making a point of watching, like I currently do

[zeph]

I was listening to The Race podcast and my thoughts are now:

- make the Sprint series a separate mini-championship, with points not affecting the actual WDC.
- make Sprint qualifying one hot lap from a standing start That's it, that's all, no retakes. The race is shorter, qualifying should be as well.
- move GP qualifying to Sunday morning, and leave Friday for FP1 and 2.
- make the Sprint race shorter. 15 laps or so. Or whatever distance the softest compound can comfortably achieve.

Or, my preferred scenario: ditch Sprint altogether

[djos]

I was listening to The Race podcast and my thoughts are now:

- make the Sprint series a separate mini-championship, with points not affecting the actual WDC.
- make Sprint qualifying one hot lap from a standing start That's it, that's all, no retakes. The race is shorter, qualifying should be as well.
- move GP qualifying to Sunday morning, and leave Friday for FP1 and 2.
- make the Sprint race shorter. 15 laps or so. Or whatever distance the softest compound can comfortably achieve.

Or, my preferred scenario: ditch Sprint altogether

If we have to have Sprint races, that scenario is the least worst option imo.

[Willows59]

If we are keeping the sprint format, I agree with the reverse grid idea, but to stop people trying to finish last to in theory start 1st, only have one qualifying for the main race and then reverse that grid. Drivers prioritise the main race rightly so, so wont try to finish last, this would make for exciting racing with teams worried about damage to the cars so will need to tread carefully and maybe extend the length of the race so that soft tyres will not last the whole race so to force a change of strategy with either going on to mediums (slower) or soft tyres then we will get pitstops.

[mendis]

I like the Sprint weekends. It's much better to watch competitive stuff throughout the weekend than 3 boring 30 minutes practice sessions (on an average that's what we get). With their world class infrastructure if a team can't get a set-up right, out of the box, well tough luck.

It's getting nauseating to hear some drivers and folks saying, oh we get to know on Saturday what the real speed of the cars is, no suspense blah blah blah. Hell we pretty much know who is faster as any weekend arrives. I wouldn't mind more sprint weekends.

[Big Tea]

I like the Sprint weekends. It's much better to watch competitive stuff throughout the weekend than 3 boring 30 minutes practice sessions (on an average that's what we get). With their world class infrastructure if a team can't get a set-up right, out of the box, well tough luck.

It's getting nauseating to hear some drivers and folks saying, oh we get to know on Saturday what the real speed of the cars is, no suspense blah blah blah. Hell we pretty much know who is faster as any weekend arrives. I wouldn't mind more sprint weekends.

Or have totally random selection of starting positions for the sprint and no 'shootout'

[stephen]

It adds something to look forward to on race weekends but F1 needs to make a few changes in this to make it more entertaining for the fans.