2023 Sprint Races: For Ross Brawn, the track is the key to success

Delighted with the spectacle offered by the last Sprint Race of the 2022 season at Interlagos, the F1 sporting and technical director will take care of the selection of circuits for next season.

Published on 13/11/2022 à 08:30

Jean-Michel Desnoues

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2023 Sprint Races: For Ross Brawn, the track is the key to success

The Interlagos Sprint Race will have offered entertainment on the track / © DPPI

Ross Brawn was smiling for the big days at the end of the 3rd and final sprint race of the 2022 season. Like last year, the Interlagos route allowed the concept to reach its full potential; which had not necessarily been the case at Imola and Spielberg earlier in the season.

This time, the battle that George fought Russell, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton et Max Verstappen with great bursts of colorful overtaking justified a format rather criticized by the drivers.

« Once again, it shows that when you put a racing driver in a racing car, he gives his all! exclaimed the Briton, radiant. No, Max did not take a margin because he is already titled as I heard. He fought ! »

This Interlagos sprint race, which proved to be just as spectacular as last year, shows in any case that the main ingredient for success is the track, and only the track.

« It must offer the possibility of running and overtaking, insisted Brawn. Interlagos is probably the best track for a sprint race, while Monaco would be the worst. This is why the choice of the six tracks which will receive a sprint race next year will be decisive. We will find the right circuits. Track type is a high priority! »

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If the Briton intends to take care of the selection of six tracks which will host a Sprint in 2023, he is more circumspect when discussing the possible changes that could occur.

« When we have defined the most suitable circuits, we can then look at the format, he continued. That being said, I think the current one works very well and great care needs to be taken before making any changes.

I am in favor of an evolution rather than a revolution, such as moving the moment of parc ferme to give more meaning to EL2. All this will be the subject of discussions during the next Commission F1 in Abu Dhabi ».

Brawn will take a step back next year but the former technical director Ferrari and main team Mercedes should however continue to work on special projects.

« I don't want any more daily responsibilities, but a project like this is very challenging and fun He concludes.

Provided that it operates on the right circuits, obviously.

ALSO READ > Towards a change of format for sprint races?

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