The recent changes to Formula 1 in its sprint race format have resulted in a different position over the weekend for the shortened race and a greater separation from the grand prix. The Chinese Grand Prix serves as the first opportunity to assess whether this adjustment leads to an improvement. Edd Straw and Scott Mitchell-Malm analyze the impact of the format revision on the Shanghai sprint race and discuss its implications for future sprint events.
Although the sprint format still has its flaws, one area where it has clearly progressed is its integration into the weekend schedule. Instead of dividing the main event, the sprint qualifying and race now serve as an appetizer for the grand prix. This is a significant improvement over last year, when Saturday was exclusively dedicated to the sprint, resulting in a two-day gap between the grand prix qualifying and the race itself. The eye-catching nature of the Friday sprint qualifying, which differs from a typical qualifying session, and the logical progression from FP1 have contributed to this positive change.
Despite these improvements, there are still issues with the sprint format. Regardless of how the on-track action is ordered, there will always be weaknesses. However, the grid set on Friday for the sprint race generated anticipation for the race, and it was a relief to know that it would not determine the starting order for the grand prix. Although having cars out of position is still exciting on Sunday, a full race distance would likely lead to a more predictable outcome. However, the Shanghai sprint race demonstrated the potential of the format and highlighted the need for further exploration.
One of the most satisfying aspects of the new sprint format is the opening of the parc fermé. This means that what is witnessed on Saturday morning is not just a rehearsal for the grand prix on Sunday. In the previous format, the sprint effectively determined the grid for the main race, leaving little room for surprises. Although there are still some clues for the Chinese Grand Prix, they are not significantly different from what one might assume. However, the ability of teams to apply their learnings from the sprint and make adjustments to their setup and approach for qualifying and the grand prix introduces a level of uncertainty that was previously absent.
In order for sprints to be meaningful and valuable for the drivers, they need to offer competitive races. This requires tangible rewards and a concept that the drivers can embrace. In the first format, sprints were important for all drivers as they determined the grid positions for the grand prix. However, the second format limited the importance of sprints to fewer drivers, with only the top eight earning points. This limitation still exists in the current format, as drivers from 9th to 20th place are not fighting for anything. There was concern that downgrading sprints to a Saturday morning slot would diminish their importance, but at least at the front of the grid, the drivers showed their commitment and provided an exciting spectacle.
There were doubts about choosing China for the first sprint of the year due to the lack of familiarity of the ground effect cars with the track and the limited preparation time. Additionally, the track surface, which underwent an asphalt treatment last year, added to the uncertainty. However, everything went well, and the cars performed well. The fears surrounding this format did not materialize.
Weekend sprints offer teams limited flexibility, and it was not surprising that 95% of the grid opted to start with medium tires. This choice was based on the balance between longevity and speed for a 19-lap race in a single stint. Additionally, tire set availability played a role in this decision. Despite wet conditions during SQ3, which allowed all drivers to save a set of soft tires, there was little to gain by using the softer compound when medium tires were the most suitable option. With only the Mercedes drivers and Fernando Alonso starting the sprint with the six sets of soft tires, the desire to save them for qualifying further limited strategic variety. This lack of deviation from the obvious tire choice is not unique to China, but is a common occurrence in sprint races where teams have similar tire resources.
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