Daniel Ricciardo is willing to support Formula 1’s push for sprint races providing the “value” of winning is retained.
At a recent F1 Commission meeting, teams reportedly gave “broad support” to a plan which would see a Friday qualifying for a 100km race on a Saturday to decide the grid for the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
Now, a working group has been set up to further analyse the idea with a final vote to go ahead expected before the start of the 2021 season next month.
If that is given, the Canadian, Italian and Brazilian GP’s are being targeted to trial the new format, something that was confirmed by Montreal chief Francois Dumontier.
“We have indeed had discussions in this regard and we are very open to making this project happen, as long as the Canadian Grand Prix takes place,” he said via the Journal.
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Also praising the sprint race concept and the races chosen was Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.
“It’s a good decision, we’ve had too many boring races. Now we’ve found three suitable tracks on which you can overtake,” he told Germany’s RTL.
Then Ricciardo, speaking after the McLaren launch on Monday, admitted his initial concerns were easing.
“At first I was a little apprehensive, but I do feel better at the thought of that certainly [rather] than a reverse grid,” he was quoted by RaceFans.
“Ultimately if the best guys and the best teams are still coming out on top and it’s kind of not manipulated or artificial, so to speak, then I’m less scared of it.
“Competition is obviously what I love most. I would love to do more races and less practice or whatever. So in saying that, it does go towards what I want.
“But I think the biggest thing is I want an F1 win to still feel as big as what it should be. I don’t ever want an F1 win to feel diluted or just somewhat lower than what it should.
“So as long as if they do bring in another race on the weekend, as long as it [still] kind of carries the same value, then I guess I’m certainly more open-minded towards that.”