F1 Sprint Race: is it good or bad for the sport?

Introduced in 2021, the F1 sprint race format has been causing a stir, and with six ‘sprint weekends’ in the 2023 season, it looks like the controversial format is here to stay!

What is the Sprint Race?

F1 Sprint is a new format of racing introduced in 2021 by Formula One and has given the traditional three-day race weekend a turbocharged makeover. It’s a shorter race that takes place over 100k usually lasting around 30 minutes. It’s held on Saturday and is used as a qualifying session for the main race on Sunday.

The results of the F1 Sprint not only determine the starting grid positions for the Grand Prix but also the top three finishers are awarded championship points.

Unlike the traditional Grand Prix, there are no mandatory pit stops.

The introduction of the F1 Sprint format was met with mixed reactions from fans, teams, and drivers. Some welcomed the idea of adding a new level of excitement to the race weekend, while others expressed concerns about the impact on the traditional race format and the potential for accidents due to the condensed schedule.

After Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won a thrilling duel with Lewis Hamilton in the first F1 Sprint race in 2021 at Silverstone, the format received positive reviews and the organisers of F1 decided to continue with it in selected races.

To help you make up your mind we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of the new format.

Pros of the Sprint Race

More action

Different strategies

Sprint races inject more excitement into race weekends with less practice sessions and more competitive racing. With a shorter race distance, drivers are forced to push harder from the start, leading to more overtaking and battles for position. This creates a more intense and thrilling experience for fans, who can see their favourite drivers go wheel-to-wheel in a high-stakes race on either the Saturday or Sunday.

The sprint race format also allows for different strategies to come into play. Drivers may opt to save their tires or push hard from the start, depending on their position on the grid and their overall goal for the weekend. This creates more strategic diversity and adds an extra layer of unpredictability to the race weekend.

Cons of the Sprint Race

Less importance on qualifying

In the traditional format, Saturdays qualifying session is crucial because it determines the starting order for the race. In the F1 sprint race format, qualifying only decides the grid order for the sprint race.

This means that drivers who have had a bad qualifying session on Friday have a chance to make up ground during the sprint race. This is a big advantage for the top teams, as if they crash or make a mistake in qualifying, they have a chance in the sprint race to regain lost positions.

Britain’s very own Lewis Hamilton capitalised on this at the Sao Paulo GP in 2021 where he found himself adrift in last position after qualifying but was able to make up fifteen places during the sprint race, giving him a much better starting position for the Grand Prix on the Sunday. He went on to win dramatically.

Increased risk of accidents

With more intense racing comes an increased risk of accidents. While crashes can happen in any race format, the sprint race format encourages drivers to take more risks, knowing that they have a shorter race distance to make up for any mistakes.

This could lead to more incidents on track and could also impact the main race if a driver sustains damage or is unable to start due to a crash in the sprint race. In a cost cap era where teams are limited on the amount they can spend this season this also can impact teams budgets for developing the car.

Less time for teams to adjust

With only one practice session before the sprint race, teams have less time to fine-tune their cars based on data collected during the session. This puts more pressure on them to get things right the first time, potentially leading to more mistakes and issues during the sprint race and the main race.

Room for improvement?

Fear not! The F1 sprint race format is in its infancy, with some people suggesting modifications that could help convert even the most sceptical of fans.

One popular suggestion is to have qualifying on Friday set the grid order for the Grand Prix on Sunday, while having the sprint race on Saturday take place with a reverse grid order. Slowest qualifier at the front, fastest at the back.

This would give teams who are usually towards the back of the grid a chance to pick up some championship points and make for an exciting race with lots of overtaking.

How to get Formula 1 tickets

We have a wide range of exciting packages available for a selection of F1 weekends, including Sprint Race weekends such as the Belgian Grand Prix and Austrian Grand Prix. From flights to hotels, we take care of everything, all you need to focus on is enjoying the thrill of the event.