Sprint races: instructions for use

• What does the new format look like?

If the Monza weekend will open in a classic way on Friday with Free Practice 1 spread over 60 minutes, the drivers will then get to the heart of the matter in the evening with the qualifying session and its usual division Q1/Q2/Q3 . 

These timed tests will take place late in the day (18:00 p.m. in mainland France) because the F1 wishes to give workers the opportunity to follow the session after leaving the office. 

These qualifications will not be used to define the starting order for the Sunday Grand Prix but that of the famous 100 kilometer Sprint race, “Sprint Qualifying” in English, which will take place on Saturday at 16:30 p.m.

Before that, the Free Practice 2 session will take place, the point of which is difficult to see because the cars enter closed park conditions from the start of qualifying on Friday evening. 

In other words, teams will no longer be allowed to touch the cars, except on the sidelines and with the authorization of the FIA, for the rest of the weekend.

The Sprint round will take place over 17 laps and approximately half an hour, and its classification will determine the starting grid for the traditional Grand Prix, which will be given on Sunday at 15:00 p.m. 

Weekend program (metropolitan France time):

Friday
14:30 p.m. – 15:30 p.m.: Free Practice 1
18:00 p.m. – 19:00 p.m.: Qualifications

Saturday
12:00 p.m. – 13:00 p.m.: Free Practice 2
16:30 p.m. – 17:00 p.m.: Qualifying race

Sunday 
15:00 p.m. – 17:00 p.m.: Grand Prix

• What is the new scale?

The Grand Prix will continue to award as many points to the first 10, according to the following scale: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. The bonus point awarded to the author of the best trick is also maintained. The Sprint race will offer a few additional units. The winner will pocket 3, his runner-up 2, and the 3rd only one. 

In the end, the perfect score during a weekend with a qualifying race amounts to 29 points for the driver who manages to win during the Sprint and the GP while setting the best lap in the main event race. . 

A little nod to history: the drivers who make up the Top 3 of the Sprint will be awarded a large crown of laurels like in the good old days. 

• What about the tire allowance?

Instead of the 13 sets of dry track tires usually allocated per driver, riders will receive only 12 sets of tires this weekend: 2 sets of Hard C2 tires, 4 sets of Medium C3 tires, and 6 sets of Soft C4 tires. Drivers will also have up to 6 sets of Intermediates and 3 sets of Maxi-Wet tires. 

During qualifying on Friday evening, only Soft tires can be used and the often criticized Q2 tire rule will not be applied. In other words, riders will be able to start with the compound of their choice, both during the Saturday Sprint and the Sunday Grand Prix. 

Tire changes will not be compulsory during the qualifying race. On the other hand, drivers will always have to use at least two compounds during the GP, if it takes place on a dry track. 

• What impact on team finances?

Who says additional shopping, says additional expenses. However, since this year the teams have been subject to a strict budgetary ceiling of 145 million dollars (132 million euros). 

To compensate for the addition of the 3 Sprint rounds planned this year, the teams will receive an additional 450 dollars (000 euros), plus compensation in the event of an accident.

• Is the format likely to return?

He must return for the 3rd meeting, which was to be in Brazil but remains to be confirmed in view of the health situation in the country of Corcovado.

Convinced of the merits of the approach, Ross Brawn, technical and sporting director of the F1 Group, is openly campaigning for more Sprint races in 2022. Such a scenario will partly depend on the full-scale test which begins this weekend. other side of the Channel.