While the big and small teams cannot agree on the sprint races that might be held in 2021, former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone thinks he has the solution.
Sprint and main race should be different
Speaking to Auto, Motor und Sport, the 90-year-old Brit says the idea of sprint races during F1 weekends is not a new one. “It’s an old idea that was already being discussed in my day. The key here is to do it right.” According to Ecclestone, the sprint race must have something to offer that makes it different from the main race on Sunday.
“People only watch the main race if there is something on offer other than the sprint race. Why should Sunday’s race be different from Saturday’s if the result of the sprint is the starting grid for the main race?”
A reversed grid, but slightly different
The proposal Ecclestone has is somewhere similar to the reversed grid proposal that was previously rejected. “You have to award points for the sprint race, and then reverse the grid for the main race on this. If the winner of the sprint race gets fifteen points, he has to move back fifteen places on the grid on Sunday.” According to Ecclestone, this is the only way to keep the tension high.
“My system makes both races exciting. Because on Saturday someone asks himself the question: should I win the sprint race but lose grid positions, or is it better to finish sixth in the sprint race and then start fourth in the main race? Moreover, that would perhaps earn more points”, concludes Ecclestone. He also believes that it is good to see cars at the front of the grid sometimes that would not normally make it.
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