Some important changes in terms of format for the Sprint Race weekend will most likely be confirmed before Formula 1 returns for the fourth round of the 2023 season, which is scheduled to take place at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan, with all ten teams agreeing to these changes, as confirmed by Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur.
For the current season there are six events that will take place based on the Sprint Race format, after the sport tested them during the previous championship, when three such events were held, with mixed feedback. Now the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be the first Sprint Race weekend of the 2023 season, following the three-week break. However, as compared to last year, this time there will most likely be some significant changes, with the format being altered again.
Sprint race weekend already feature two practice sessions instead of the normal three, with the Sprint race replacing one of the usual practice sessions. Formula 1 plans to further reduce that to just one hour for the Baku sprint race weekend: the idea would be to turn FP2 on Saturday morning into a special qualifying session that would determine the starting grid for the Sprint race, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon. As a result, the qualifying session that takes place on Friday afternoon would set the starting order for Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The specific details of the changes have not yet been officially confirmed by the FIA, but the media has reported on these changes during the last week and now Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explained that the plan enjoys the support of all Formula 1 teams.
“For once I think all the teams were aligned,” – the French manager pointed out – “It’s not very often that it’s the case, [so] we have to jump on it.” – he added.
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By introducing another qualifying session and taking out a free practice session, the weekend becomes “more dynamic” according to the Ferrari team principal: “You can discuss about why you had to do it so late, but at the end of the day, I think that we are all aligned that we have to push for it.”
The main criticism directed at the sprint format after it was used for the first time in 2022 was the lack of interest for the second free practice session on Saturday, given the fact that the qualifying session was already done by the time FP2 was scheduled so teams were only performing limited running on track. Frederic Vasseur confirmed that he likes the proposed new format for the sprint weekend. The Frenchman explained:
“I’m not a big fan of the of the usual FP2. Sometimes it’s a bit boring, not for us because we have a lot of data, but I can imagine for the spectators, even for you if you don’t know about the level of fuel, the engine mode and so that you have, it is a bit boring. To try to have something more dynamic during the weekends is a good decision. And then, on the other hand, I think it’s also it’s true that if you watch football, you are not watching the session on Wednesday when they are training in the stadium. We are probably the only sport where we are putting on TV the training session.” – Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur concluded.
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