Could alternate layouts provide the answer in F1’s search for the right sprint format?
Formula 1 revamped its polarising sprint format for April’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, but the fans appeared to remain unconvinced.
Baku saw the introduction of a ‘Sprint Saturday’.
Where previously there had been a meaningless Free Practice 2 session on Saturday morning followed by a Sprint Race to decide Sunday’s grid, in Azerbaijan we had the inaugural ‘Sprint Shootout’ – a half-length qualifying session to decide the grid for the Sprint Race later that day – with Sunday’s grid set by the regular qualifying session on Friday.
Whilst some issues with the Sprint format have been fixed – or at least lessened – by these changes, the overriding ones remain.
This writer, however, feels there may be a solution.
The pros and cons
There was certainly something to be said for the revamp in Baku. It tidied up some of the not overly serious but nonetheless frustrating issues, such as who was officially awarded pole position: initially, not the fastest qualifier but the winner of the sprint race; then the fastest qualifier but not necessarily the driver who actually started on pole…
And, in theory, the drivers had more of an incentive to produce some wheel-to-wheel action.
When the Sprint Race decided the grid for Sunday’s main event, many were cautious, as the risk of starting from the back outweighed the reward of an extra point or two for a lick-the-stamp-and-send-it overtaking manoeuvre. With less to lose, surely there would be more action?
That didn’t really prove to be the case, though, as the drivers outside of the top eight had very little to fight for and there remained a risk of costly damage – particularly during an era of budget caps – or penalties that could be served on Sunday.
A few new issues also arose.
The structure felt unclear and a little jumbled. The usual, natural crescendo – each session organically building in importance through to Sunday’s grand prix – was no longer present. Going from one qualifying session to another arguably less important one was jarring.
And there were certainly some loopholes to be closed too. We almost saw Lando Norris and Yuki Tsunoda battling it out for P9 on wet tyres in SQ3 due to the fact they had run out of the mandatory option of new softs, but there was no rule to prevent them using the wets.
Overall, a slight improvement, but not enough of one
On balance, despite those concerns, this iteration of a sprint weekend was probably a slight improvement on the previous ones. However, the overriding problems remain unsolved.
The biggest of those is that a sprint race acts as an effective spoiler for the main race. For example, where normally we’d have gone into the Sunday in Azerbaijan wondering whether Charles Leclerc could take an unexpected fight to the mighty Red Bulls, Sprint Saturday had made it clear that he would stand no chance.
And to what end?
After the obvious excitement of a race start – and a bonus safety car restart – there was precious little action. With no scope for strategic calls, the cars will more often than not just follow one another round in a DRS train.
A potential solution
So, if Formula 1 is going to persist with the sprint format, what could be the solution?
The answer – or at least my suggestion – consists of two words: alternate layouts.
Sprint weekends should only feature on tracks where there is the potential for a second track layout. With all the sprint sessions now condensed down to Saturday, it is surely feasible to make the required amendments between the two layouts on Friday and Saturday night.
It would prevent the sprint spoiling what we can expect from the race, whilst also adding variables and excitement. And we know how FOM feels about both of those.
Some examples
It would make sense to go with short, snappy layouts for a sprint, and there are already plenty of options on the current calendar. Here are just a few…
Bahrain
We have already experienced a grand prix around Sakhir’s ‘Outer Circuit’ in 2020.
It proved fairly popular and produced a good amount of action. It would be perfect for a quick blast on a Saturday.
Great Britain
Silverstone’s ‘International Circuit’ could also work well. It retains the Hangar Straight to enable a DRS zone and plenty of passing opportunities.
Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina isn’t quite at the levels of Paul Ricard when it comes to numerous layouts, but there are a fair few.
Of course, F1’s resident experts could decide which the best option would be, but at a glance this course looks to be a decent one.
Italy
And hey, why not make the Temple of Speed a Temple of Sprint Speed too?
A proper old-school Monza vibe that is basically just an oval with a chicane.
These are just four quick mock-ups of the idea. Zandvoort, Suzuka and COTA all also have existing short-circuit alternatives.
It seems highly likely that Baku and Singapore could provide options with a potential cut-through where two sections of track run parallel to each other and, if called upon, plenty of other venues would surely be able and willing to create options.
If F1 insists on having us Sprint our way through the weekend with constant action, let’s make it a true sprint and at least mix things up with a journey into the unknown that doesn’t ruin the main event on Sunday.
