Formula 1 has launched a fan survey in a bid to gauge interest in introducing reversed-grid Sprint Races at four grand prix in the 2021 season.
Championship officials wanted to bring in 30-minute races, in place of qualifying, at three events for 2020.
The grid for the Sprint Race would be determined by reverse championship order while the outcome of that race would then determine the line-up for the main grand prix.
But the proposal was rejected by teams and when the concept was floated for the second Austrian and British rounds of the coronavirus-hit 2020 campaign it was once more dismissed.
The idea reared its head earlier this month in the wake of the shaken-up Italian Grand Prix, in which several front-runners encountered setbacks.
Pierre Gasly beat Carlos Sainz to take victory, with Lance Stroll joining them on the podium, while World Champion Lewis Hamilton recovered from the back to finish seventh.
F1’s Fan Voice, which regularly runs surveys on behalf of the championship, has this week asked fans for their “thoughts and feelings about the potential for introducing a reversed-grid qualifying sprint race, 30 minutes in length, at four of the 22 Formula 1 races next season.”
“These changes are being considered in the context of limited changes coming in next year and with the ambition to mix up the grid on a Sunday to increase the excitement and unpredictability of a small selection of races.”
Among the questions asked were if the unpredictability of the race made it more enjoyable, whether watching Lewis Hamilton fight his way through the pack was engaging, and if fans enjoyed seeing drivers not normally competing at the front battling for the win.
It is understood that the most likely events to be selected are grands prix in France, Belgium, Italy and Russia.
Formula 1 drivers have been largely against the introduction of reversed-grid races, with four-time Sebastian Vettel saying the sport will have failed if they are brought in.
Formula 1 has also polled fans on the effectiveness of its End Racism statements and We Race As One branding, which was brought in amid global movements aimed at improving diversity.
It has also asked fans for their thoughts on how well Formula 1 has “coped in adjusting to the challenges faced due to Covid-19” and whether it has fared better or worse than other sports.
No, no, absolutely no !
Apart from anything else, has anyone worked out how this will impact the cost cap – extra race mileage = extra PU + gearbox mileage, increased risk of damage and consequent impact on the main race, etc, etc.
And the fact that it happens in lesser formulae DOES NOT mean that it’s a good idea for F1.
Would you not like to see it at select events, just to see how it goes? Perhaps 2/3 races, every season are chosen as reversed-grid races, the remainder remain unchanged. Mixes up weekend format a little and if it’s just 2/3 races, the additional costs wouldn’t be huge.
Nope…. Not at all, ever.
And another thing: what about all the faff of setting up the cars for the sprint race then having to revert to settings for the main event ? Yes, of course, you can say ‘no changes’ but then the sprint isn’t a true reflection of the capabilities of the cars.
Bears as much relevance to F1 as T20 ‘pyjama’ cricket does to the 5-day real thing.
Instead yes, yes, absolutely yes. Except Mercedes fans, we are all bored to death at seeing L.Hamilton cruising to win for years and years. It has become Formula Hamilton. Good for him but terrible for the sport which should enable drivers to show their true talent, while for now it is just a massive Mercedes commercial. So, waiting for 2022 ground effect cars and budget cap, meanwhile anything is welcome to mix up the grid. Besides that, mini race on Saturday should be anyway lots of fun.
Why should a ‘mini-race’ be lots of fun, especially on tracks that are frequently criticised for having few overtaking opportunities ? Can’t see the true relative performance being sorted out under such conditions, which means that the main event will even more dependent on ‘in the pits’ overtaking than it is now.
This idea of a sprint race to qualify is half-arsed. It gives the top teams two bites at getting to the front. If they are going to have reverse grids at all, make it for the normal race. We’ve already seen numerous times over the last three or four years how easily the faster cars carve through the field following a qualifying disaster or an early spin or puncture. Hamilton recently after penalties, Bottas in Azerbaijan, Verstappen in Brazil and Russia, Vettel in Germany are some examples. After a qualifying race the grid line-up wouldn’t be much different from how it usually is. One chance to gain the places is plenty.