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Why F1 Should Consider Sprint Races

  • Writer: Sean Birkle
    Sean Birkle
  • Sep 15, 2020
  • 3 min read

Updated: Sep 17, 2020

September 19, 2020


If the 2020 Italian Grand Prix showed us anything, it's that chaos can be good. The Italian GP showed us what a race without the top teams looks like, leaving us with some of the most unpredictable and exciting racing of the V6 turbo-hybrid era.


Image by Mark Sutton via Motorsport Images/LAT Images


F1 has pushed back the new car regulations to 2022 after COVID forced the FIA to reschedule this season and teams to shut down development. With these changes pushed back another year, the cars will be largely the same next year. This could be the perfect opportunity for the FIA to consider race format changes for 2022.

Photo via F1/FIA


F1 runs a standard practice-qualifying-race format, the same general format they've used since the first GP in 1950. F2, on the other hand, has changed their format to add more excitement to their racing. F2 has a practice-qualifying-heat race-sprint race format. Qualifying determines the starting grid for the first heat race and the starting grid for the sprint race is determined by the finishing order of the heat race, with the top 8 positions inverted. Having 2 shorter races instead of 1 longer race keeps the racing closer and inverting the top 8 for the second race encourages more racing, challenges drivers, and increases the importance of strategy. If F1 were to adopt this format, racing would be closer, more exciting and less predictable.


A typical podium in the turbo-hybrid era

Photo via F1/FIA


In most F1 races, the top 3 teams are the only teams with a hope of getting a podium. There is a distinct midfield and front runner separation. In the 2019 Abu Dhabi GP, the top 6 were the only drivers on the lead lap. Every other driver was lapped at least once by the leaders. This is a large factor in F1 races becoming "boring" and "predictable." It's a safe bet that Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari drivers will make up the podium in every race. Watching the same drivers fighting for the same positions every weekend gets dull.


An all midfield podium at the Italian GP

Image via Motorsport Images/LAT Images


This has been the case in F1 for a long time, until the 2020 Italian GP when 3 midfield teams made up the podium. In a race filled with chaos and hardship for top teams combined with a red flag complete restart right in the middle, we saw some of the best racing in a long time. Not only was the racing closer, it was completely unpredictable. Until the checkered flag dropped, no one really knew who was going to be on the podium. Instead of the leaders finishing a lap ahead of the rest of the field, every driver (excluding those that did not finish) finished on the lead lap. In fact, the gap from the first driver to the last was around the same as the typical gap of Mercedes to the rest of the field.


Pierre Gasly celebrates with his team after winning the Italian GP

Photo by Steven Tee via Motorsport Images/LAT Images


Everyone enjoyed the race, from the fans to the drivers and teams. It was new and exciting and we saw things we have never seen before. Why not have this kind of action every race? It can happen. Forcing the faster cars to start in the middle of the field for the second race would give midfield teams a shot at winning and truly test the skills of the top teams and their drivers. They will have to find a new strategy and drive their way to the front. No more starting up front and finishing a mile ahead. Drivers would be forced to earn their position on talent, not simply by having a fast car. Introducing sprint races and grid inversions will encourage closer and more exciting racing, as demonstrated by an Italian GP Monza masterclass.




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About the author:

My name is Sean Birkle, I am a lifelong motorsport fan, professional motorsport photographer, and amateur motorsport journalist. After I realized I wasn’t going to make it as a driver, I began looking for ways to use my skills to work in the motorsport industry. In 2014 I bought my first camera and started shooting. In 2017, I became Adrenaline Motorsport Media and in 2020 I began my relationship with INDYCAR. I have been shooting mostly karting and I am looking to break into large scale motorsports through my relationship with INDYCAR. Through my journey, I have been encouraged to start writing the stories behind the photos I take. I discovered that I enjoy writing about motorsports and I have been working to expand my value to the motorsport world.


 
 
 

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