Formula 1 team bosses are keen to avoid the potential pitfalls from the new Sprint Qualifying format at the British Grand Prix.
After years of talks, this weekend sees the usual schedule thrown out the window at Silverstone, with a qualifying session replacing Practice 2 on Friday to decide the grid for a 17-lap sprint race on Saturday.
Points will then be given for the top three of that race, while the results will set the starting order for Sunday’s traditional Grand Prix.
“I am excited about it as trying a concept like this is something I have talked about for a long time,” former driver turned commentator Martin Brundle told Sky Sports.
“The teams have got so much data and simulations, the driver-in-the-loop simulators, wind tunnels, and so they turn up to races with cars with set-ups that are pretty close to what they need them to be.
“But in this format, if it’s raining on Friday for first practice, for example, and they don’t get any regular running, we go straight into qualifying a few hours later. I quite like the jeopardy of that.
“So let’s give it a try. Get them on the track and let the cars race.”
Brundle’s weather scenario is unlikely to play out with sunshine forecast on all three days, but Haas chief Guenther Steiner is excited to see the response to the sprint format.
“I am looking forward to it because it’s something new and something new always gives opportunity and hopefully we can be a part of that,” he said.
“I think the success will be if the fans like it. At the moment I think it’s a good format but if there’s something we can enhance, and the fans embrace it, that would be good and then I would say let’s do more of it.”
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However, then Steiner noted the first potential pitfall of the 17-lap race, drivers getting involved in an incident.
“I think for sure the drivers will race hard because in qualifying everyone races hard and this is like a sprint race which defines the qualifying positions,” he continued.
“On Sunday, when points are at stake, you want to be in the best position to start the race as you can.
“From our side, this year it’s all about learning so running the race, having a few more race starts during the year because the Sprint Qualifying format will be an advantage next year.
“On the Sprint, I will tell them (Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher) to keep their noses clean and keep the cars on the track.”
At the other end of the grid, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff noted the increased importance of maximising the first hour of running on Friday morning.
“The first weekend with the new sprint qualifying format brings a fresh challenge for all teams,” commented the Austrian.
“With just a single one-hour practice session ahead of the Friday qualifying session, and the cars’ configuration fixed [in Parc Ferme] from the beginning of standard qualifying on Friday, whoever can get up to speed quickest will carry an advantage through the weekend.
“We will be adapting our approach and running plans to ensure we are best prepared for every aspect of the new challenge.”
There is also an additional complication which Ferrari think could catch some teams out this weekend…
“We should keep in mind we have a new tyre specification in Silverstone,” said team boss Mattia Binotto.
“Yes, we tested it in Austria but most of the teams need again to have some more experience on it.
“There will be very little time for it because we’ve got only the Friday morning before going into the qualifying.
“So I think going straight into the qualifying with a new tyre spec, anyway it is a new format, very little experience because then it will be parc ferme from Friday afternoon onwards, will be exciting.
“I think that [for] some, there may be some mess because the set up will not be optimised. I think it can be a great race weekend in that respect.”
Buckle up, the British GP could be quite the ride…
