F1 2025 - News/Regulation change/Developments

They have to change the format on the sprints to artificially create racing (force a pit stop maybe?) or hope that the new regulations allow for more racing.

 

It looks like Sprints are there to stay. Not that approve, but I can see the benefit from Liberty and the promoters' point of view. Two Qualifs sessions and 2 races (instead of one each) spread over 3 days.
F1 wants to see cars on the tracks, not mostly in the pits during 3 practice sessions.
For the spectators, a GP with a Sprint race must be a bonus, probably.

I thought that moving from 3 practice session to just one would hamper the cars preparation, but it doesn't seem so. One thing, though, why only 8 drivers (not 10) receive points for their effort ?

 

Honestly, if you want to see more hard racing and less retirements, give points for every position. They could give fractional points outside the top 10 in GPs.

 

Thursday set up. Friday 1 90min practice then qualy. Saturday Race. NO need for a longer weekend with so many races. Easier on the team members who make nothing and now actually less given the cost cap. Problem is promoters pay, have to absurd fees for an F1 event. Need to soak the paying public with 3 day events to make any money.

 

If you want GPs to be 2-day events, it should be at the weekend: Saturday and Sunday.
Most people work on Friday.

 

Either way its a rational schedule given the workload via so many 'events'.

 

F1 weighing up Qatar GP-only rule change

Pirelli is in discussions with Formula 1 teams and the FIA about the possibility of making the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix a mandatory two-stop race for safety reasons.

How this would be implemented has not yet been finalised, but would most likely be achieved through the imposition of a mandatory stint length, forcing the 57-lap race to be divided into at least three separate runs.

Pirelli F1 chief engineer Simone Berra confirmed that “we are speaking with the FIA, with the teams, with F1 and we will take a decision very soon”. He also indicated that the two-stop stipulation “is on the table”.

This is a consequence of concerns arising from last year’s race, which was a one-stopper for the majority of runners despite high wear levels that caused damage to the carcass of the tyres.

This is not the first time that stint lengths have been mandated in Qatar, as in 2023 a maximum of 18 laps was set after potential problems were identified in practice.

However, this latest proposal is in response to last year’s race, in which thermal degradation was not a problem and the best race time was achieved by maximising the stint length on the medium-compound Pirellis, which were significantly faster than the hards.

Both Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) suffered front-left punctures in this race, but while initially the suspicion was these were caused by debris, Pirelli ultimately concluded it was a consequence of extreme wear.