FORMULA 1 AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2023 - Pre Race Thread

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/36095836/f1-teams-agree-changes-sprint-race-format

F1 teams agree on changes to sprint race format for Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Formula One will feature a new sprint format at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after unanimous agreement among the teams to make a change.

Pending official ratification of the change, F1 is dropping Saturday's practice session, which usually precedes the sprint race, in favour of a standalone qualifying session for that event. It means Friday's qualifying session will now set the race for the grand prix on Sunday, with the outcome of the sprint having no bearing on how a driver starts the main race.

The top eight finishers in a sprint race will receive points (handed out 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1).

The schedule of a sprint weekend will now run as follows:

• Friday: Practice, Qualifying
  
  
• Saturday: Sprint Qualifying, Sprint Race
  
  
• Sunday: Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
  

The format is still controversial -- reigning world champion Max Verstappen is one of the biggest critics of the sprint concept.

Baku is one of six events being held under the sprint format -- Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin's U.S. Grand Prix and Brazil are the other five. The reason for the change is F1 boss Stefano Domenicali wants to make all three days of race weekend mean something to a spectator.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said the sprint weekend change, which will feature every time that format is used this year, is a rare moment of agreement among the teams.

"For once I think all the teams were aligned -- it's not very often that it's the case so we have to jump on it," Vasseur told reporters. "The format is more dynamic and you can discuss about doing it so late [before the race] but at the end of the day I think if we're all aligned then we have to push for it.

"I like the format. I'm not a big fan of the usual FP2, sometimes it's a bit boring -- not for us because we have a lot of data -- but I can imagine for the spectators and even for you if you don't know about the level of fuel, the engine mode and so on it's probably a bit boring, and to try to have something more dynamic during the weekend is a good decision."

Domenicali recently caused a stir by saying he is in favour of cancelling all practice sessions, something he thinks would benefit F1 from a spectator point of view.

"Of course, there needs to be the time for practice, but the people are coming to see performance and the more that you give the teams and drivers the chance to see who they are, the better it is for the show," Domenicali told Sky Sports during the Australian Grand Prix.

"It's not because we don't respect the traditions, we respect the old way of thinking of our weekend, but it would be wrong not to think about it. We also have a new generation that are coming in that are more aggressive in asking for something different."

Speaking about the removal of the second practice session for the sprint qualifying session, Vasseur added: "It's true that if you watch football you're not watching the session on Wednesday when they are training in the stadium, and we are probably the only sport where we are putting the training session on TV."

 

I don't even know how to attempt the threads for this race.....Qualifying and Sprint Qualifying and only 1 practice?

Max has stated that if this keeps up, he's gonna quit F1.

 

We have this standard Pre Race
1 for Practice
Then 1 qualy for both sprint and normal qualy
Then 1 for races - Sprint and Main??

 

I'm gonna think about it starting today.

 

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You know it's going to be a great system when it's going to be impossible set up the sequence of threads simply discussing the events as they happen.

My take? Just make a single thread called "the whatever this stupid system is implemented in weekend cluster****"

 

F1 Baku - Talk ***Spoilers***

 

I like the sprint races for reasons I’ve stated many times, but I disagree with awarding points (keep it a qualifying event) and I also disagree with making the change after the season has started.

I see the sprints as what the races should be: Racing without a de facto pit stop mandate created by the silly tire compound rules.

 

I still think if they're this hell bent on having a sprint format, have the sprint be a reverse grid of some sort.

Have normal practice 1 - 2 - 3 (seeing as FP3 is totally worthless in sprint formats anyways). Reverse the top 10 based on championship standings as the start of the qualifying spring race (so 10th in championship starts first and vice versa). 10 8 6 3 2 1 points for 1st to 6th, and the order you start is finishing order of the sprint.

This will encourage people to overtake during the race rather than think ''meh, to risky, I'll just sit here and be content". The quick cars especially being mid pack can't just sit there, they need to get up ahead.

 

Lol
Try to sell that idea to Liberty; they like this sort of gimmick.
Next will be 2 compulsory red flags per race to spice the show.
Yeah, let's turn F1 into the stupidest sport !

 

This !

A sprint is racing in all its purity: no stop, no strategy.

 

CART (or IndyCar…can’t recall) had a good thing going a couple of decades ago with some sponsored sprints where there were no pit stops. After a couple years of exciting racing some genius decided: “Hey! Let’s make this even MORE exciting by requiring a pit stop. And it will emphasize that racing really is a team sport! [as if].” Totally ruined it.

 

I don't care how the thread is titled as long as Joe keeps taking pictures!

 

Yes. This. Absolutely need 'competition cautions'....... ugh....

Kevin

 

At least we have both Domenicalli and Verstappen speaking out against the Sprint.

All the teams agreed to this new setup, so we don't get to vote on it. Seems to me it's a trade-off of what the teams want, what Liberty/FIA want, PLUS what the track owners want, and I'll bet they don't want to give up the 3 day weekend format since they pretty much make money only from the gate as I understand it.

 

If this carries on I gonna quit too!!

 

Scoring points fom sprint racing will only cause Max to the declared WC a couple of races earlier than he anticipated...

 

The inmates are truly running the asylum. They might as well just add a figure 8 to the courses and make it a true matter of pure luck who wins. The teams will cut costs because of the likely hood the cars will be totaled each week. Wrestling meets auto racing.

 

Thanks Liberty lol Hey FIA - ABOUT THOSE NEW REGS????????????????

 

Exactly. And even he's against it.

That's why they should have a reverse top 10 based on championship standings if they insist on a sprint race.

 

No they shouldn't ! This a stupid idea. No gimmicks in F1 !!!
The fastest cars/drivers don't need to be handicaped in any way.

 

IF being the keyword there.

Since they insist on the gimmick being there

 

I don't understand how they can just change formats without changing component regulations. Chances are higher now that a team will incur replacement of a gearbox, PU, or any other part, not to mention a crash.

 

It's almost as if they intentionally want to destroy motor racing.

 

When did Domenicalli speak out against sprint races ?