After getting through the 2020 season, not without difficulties, Formula 1 finds itself having to deal with a ruthless reality at an economic level and with a pandemic that shows no sign of ending. Stefano Domenicali, the new CEO of Liberty Media, recently expressed express his thoughts regarding the freezing of the power units and opening up to new teams with a re-discussion of the registration fee of 200 million dollars.
On Thursday an important meeting of the F1 Commission is scheduled for another controversial topic, but which could represent the perfect ‘pick’ for the Circus to increase the show at low cost. We’re talking about the sprint races to be introduced on Saturday. Dieter Rencken of RaceFans explained why Formula 1 would like to experiment with this format at all costs starting from 2021 in order to think in a 2022 perspective with clear elements in hand:
“The quickest way to boost revenues is to expand calendars: more races means increased hosting fees over a season, greater opportunities for high-end hospitality and ‘bridge-and-board’ advertising, and easier pitches to TV broadcasters for higher fees. The flipside is that teams’ costs increase enormously – particularly if races are outside Europe – while the human cost in terms of fatigue and personnel rotation are massive.
Equally, many fans do not have 30 or so weekends available per year, and are pushing back against more than 20 weekends. Plus, sponsors generally pay per season, not per race, and thus teams do not earn incremental income.
According to a source no new events, championship openers or finales will feature sprint programmes. The question of whether championship points will be awarded for sprint races as in F2 – and, if so, at what levels – will be discussed once the primary decision has fallen. F1 chiefs are, though, adamant that reverse grids – whether for sprints or main races – are off the agenda, thereby removing allegations of ‘gimmicks’.
The potential for points scoring would arguably encourage drivers to ‘go for it’ rather than simply defend the positions they earned on Friday, although awarding points on a Sunday scale would obviously devalue a grand prix victory. The expectation is that half points could be paid, possibly down to fifth or sixth place. Team bosses fear additional costs – particularly of damage – and this point, too, will be tabled.”
On Thursday, therefore, Formula 1 teams and leaders will discuss this debated topic for years, as the goal is to move from theory to practice in order to have clear elements available to evaluate how to proceed with the 2022 calendar. Several contracts with various circuits, in fact, expire in 2021 and the introduction of sprint races could allow F1 to reduce scheduled appointments thus giving more breathing space to the staff of the teams.
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