Breaking news
Formula 1
Domenicali: F1 may not have podiums after sprint race
Formula 1 may elect to skip having a normal podium after its Saturday sprint races in a bid to not take the shine off the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Mar 4, 2021, 10:17 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The sport’s bosses are currently putting together the final plans for the trial of a Saturday qualifying race at select events this year.
If the plans gets the necessary support from teams, which looks likely, then the revised format is set to run at the Canadian, Italian and Brazilian Grands Prix.
One of the factors being considered is to ensure that the shorter race on Saturday does not detract from the focus being on the main race on Sunday.
That is why, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that thoughts are being given to making sure that nothing allows the Saturday event to overshadow the main event.
“We are defining the sprint races now and we will present the programme before the Bahrain Grand Prix,” said Domenicali, at an event where F1 revealed a new tie-up with Ferrari Trento to provide its sparkling wine for the podiums from this year.
“We have to make sure that there is a difference between the iconic celebration of the race – which is the iconic moment at the end of the event on Sunday afternoon.
“That's the peak of the event and that has to be kept separate from the other moments. So the most important celebration will still be Sunday afternoon, and not Saturday.”
Read Also:
- Vettel blasts F1's sprint race plan: "It makes no sense"
- F1 needs to try sprint races despite controversy - Wolff
F1 is still weighing up a formal title for the sprint race, and one of the main suggestions being considered for it to be labelled simply the ‘qualifying race’.
However, Renault executive director Marcin Budkowski has suggested an alternative name idea, as he reckoned the shake-up to the weekend schedule would be good for the spectacle.
“Sprint races, or whatever they’re going to be called - super qualifying - it’s excitement over three days,” he said.
“We can qualify on the Friday, race on the Saturday, and race again on the Sunday. And we’re going to go a lot less prepared into qualifying. For the fans at the circuit or at home, it’s three days of excitement.
“Teams sometimes look at it, and we’re so obsessed about competing with each other, we’re so obsessed about proving our competitiveness and performance, but we need to put on a good show.
“I think that’s going to help putting a good show for the fans. So let’s try new formats. It’s a great opportunity to see if it’s something we want to carry over for the next seasons.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Vettel blasts F1's sprint race plan: "It makes no sense"
Next article Vettel makes Aston Martin debut in Silverstone shakedown
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Dec 28, 2024
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
5 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe