Brawn: “We shouldn't be afraid to conduct an experiment”

In addition to significantly revised technical regulations, with single-seaters expected to offer more intense on-track action, 2021 could potentially see Liberty Media bring new ideas to improve the spectacle of race weekends.

At the heart of these possibilities, the modification of the format of meetings, with the possibility of a sprint race and the introduction of reverse grids, like what is currently in force in the FIA F2 or in FIA F3.

And faced with the rather reserved reactions of several players in the discipline, Ross Brawn, Motor Sports director of Liberty Media, wanted to clarify the situation.

“Discussions are underway to experiment with changes to the qualifying format in 2020 with the aim of making a Grand Prix weekend a little less predictable, indicates the former technical director of the Team Ferrari.

I want to emphasize the word “experience” because that is what we are talking about: a small sample to help establish directions for the future. We are well aware that the current qualifying format is exciting and spectacular, but it is also important to ensure that the race, the highlight of the weekend, is the best it can be.

And, no matter how many simulations you run, no measurement is more accurate than the track. There Formula 1, the teams and the FIA ​​are exploring the possibility of a revised format for a small number of events for next season.

With stable sporting and technical regulations in force for 2020, now is the ideal time for such evaluations. »

Research which has not yet resulted in any decision being made by the governing bodies, who must manage this 2020 aspect head-on, but also the 2021 technical regulations, still awaited by F1.

“No decisions have yet been made as we finalize all the details, but the feedback received to date has been mostly positive, Brawn comments. I understand that purists might be concerned, but we shouldn't be afraid to run an experiment or we won't be able to make progress.

We don't want change for the sake of change, we want to improve our sport, because, just like the development of cars, if you stand still you risk going backwards. »

More information on this subject can be found in AUTO issue 2235hebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands tomorrow.