This season, the number of Sprint Races has reached an unprecedented six events, but their level of excitement and significance have been criticized by many fans and drivers. Recently, George Russell, Sergio Perez, and Max Verstappen have shared their thoughts on the Sprint Race format, with Formula 1 officials discussing potential changes to the structure and scheduling. Some suggested reforms include:
1. Merging Qualifying and Sprint Qualifying into one event, with the top 10 from Qualifying starting in reverse order for the Sprint Race, while maintaining the original grid positions for the main race.
2. Swapping the timing of Sprint Qualifying and Qualifying, so that Sprint Qualifying takes place after the first practice session, and Qualifying is held on Saturday afternoon.
However, even these alterations might not be enough to address the perceived lack of excitement. The issue lies in the short race distance, which limits the number of variables and the points awarded, leading teams to attach less importance to it. To truly enhance the Sprint Race’s entertainment value and engagement, the following changes could be considered:
1. Increasing the distance of the Sprint Qualifying Race from 100 kilometers to 150 kilometers. For instance, in the Brazilian F1 Grand Prix, the original 24-lap Sprint Race would become a 36-lap event, forcing teams to strategize pit stops or adopt different tactics to secure victory.
2. Expanding the points system for the Sprint Race, rewarding the top nine instead of eight drivers, with points distributed as follows: 12-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, thus involving more teams in the competition.
3. Providing an additional set of medium tires to each team due to the increased mileage, ensuring they have sufficient rubber without compromising their strategies.