Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn has suggested proposed changes to the weekend format could be tested in 2020.
As negotiations to decide on regulation changes for 2021 enter the final few weeks, the main details appear largely settled such as the budget cap and new car designs.
However, whether to alter the current three-day Grand Prix has been another key area for discussion.
“I’d like to see in ’20 for us to try a few things,” Brawn was quoted by Crash.net as telling Sky Sports.
“I think in ’20 we’ve got a stable platform in terms of the cars, things aren’t changing that much and I think that ’20 could be a good opportunity perhaps for one or two races to try some variations.
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“I don’t see any other way that we logically progress the race format. I think the basic race format is good but would a sprint race be interesting? Or would some changes to qualifying be interesting?
“I think the teams are up for doing some variations during a Saturday to see if we can tough on a better solution.”
Earlier in the day, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported one idea being floated is the introduction of qualifying races at four events with the grid determined by reverse championship order.
Grand Prix's where overtaking is tricky but not impossible are thought to be considered to adopt the change, which it is hoped would force the top drivers to have to come through the field, with the result of the Saturday race deciding the grid for the Sunday.
A fear is, however, that if the idea is successful, other promoters would be wanting to use that format as well.
Also, another debate is just how much practice F1 should have with Brawn keen to reduce the length of time teams are present at each race.
“We want the cars to run on a Friday but is there a way of shortening the weekend from an operational point of view for the teams because they all turn up on a Tuesday, or even a Monday to get ready,” he queried.
“If we could restrict that, have a tighter parc ferme and control the time that a team was at the circuit, then we could shorten the operational weekend for them and turn it into a three-day weekend.
“We remember when you would turn up on a Thursday afternoon and everyone would get there, put the cars in the garage and go racing. Now they turn up two or three days earlier because they want to get everything ready.
“I think Fridays are important for the promoters, it starts the weekend off but could we have two sessions on a Friday afternoon for instance? Maybe slightly shorter sessions, and then that means the teams can prepare on a Friday morning.”
