Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn has defended plans to incorporate qualifying races at some races in 2020.
Under the proposal, the current format will be replaced by a sprint race at four Grands Prix next year, with the grid decided in reverse championship order.
Drivers though met the idea with scorn in Singapore with Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton claiming those that have suggested it, don’t know what they’re doing.
“To try to clarify the situation and avoid misunderstandings, there are discussions about experimenting in 2020 with changes to the qualifying format with the aim of making a Grand Prix weekend a little less predictable,” Brawn began, speaking to the media.
“I want to emphasise the word ‘experiment’ because this is what it is about – a small sample to establish the directions for the future.
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“We are all too aware that the current qualifying format is exciting and spectacular but what is also important is to make sure that the race, the highlight of the weekend, is the best it can be.
“And since, no matter how many simulations you run, there’s no measure more accurate than the track, Formula 1, the teams and the FIA are studying the possibility of a revised format for a small number of events for next season.”
Trying to reassure those who fear F1 maybe wavering from its roots with ‘gimmicks’, Brawn declared the best interest of the sport is at the heart of every decision.
“With stable sporting and technical regulations in place for 2020, it is the perfect time for such evaluations,” he said.
“No decision has been taken yet because we are finalising all the details, but feedbacks received so far are, in the majority, positive.
“I understand that the purists might be concerned, but we should not be afraid to conduct an experiment otherwise we cannot progress.
“We don’t want change for the sake of change; we want to improve our sport because, rather like the development of the cars, if you stand still you risk slipping backwards.”
