F1 has bold plan to run 2022 Bahrain F1 sprint race on high-speed outer loop. Bahrain could hold 2022 F1 sprint race on Outer Loop layout.

After Formula 1 completed the the three sprint race trials during the current championship at Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos, which were evaluated with a positive feedback, the sport si now attempting to run the sprint race format at six events next season.

As confirmed during the Saudi Arabian weekend, Formula 1 bosses inforemd the teams that their preferred venues to host the sprints are Bahrain, Imola, Montreal, Austria, Zandvoort and Interlagos.

Part of the ongoing discussions with teams includes the idea of making the sprints standalone events. This means that while they will count for points, they will not set the grid for the main grand prix on Sunday. In case the idea is approved, then that offers scope for Formula 1 to be more radical with further format tweaks for the shorter races on Saturday to make them even more interesting.

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Sources have pointed out that one idea mentioned in early discussions between Formula 1 and the teams could be for the first sprint event in Bahrain to take place on a different track layout. The plan would be to hold practice and qualifying on Friday on the full grand prix circuit, switch Saturday’s running to the outer loop layout and then host the grand prix on Sunday back on the full track.

The outer loop was used for the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020 and turned out to be a hit in delivering excitement and drama, as Sergio Perez claimed his first Formula 1 victory. Despite thef act that the idea of an outer loop sprint is just a consideration at the moment, Bahrain circuit bosses are open to the prospect.

Sheikh Salman Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who is chief executive of the Bahrain circuit, explained that the plan was not discussed with the track yet but he feels he could work: “In theory we can do it and we will be supportive of whatever F1 would like us to do. It is just like in 2020, when we were asked to host two races, and we had the outer track, and we did that. So yes we would be supportive. But with these things, and with the teams, there will be questions about how you run one track and then another. So I’ll wait and see how they discuss that first.” – he concluded.