New Grand Prix formats tested in 2020?

Before the big upheaval of 2021, Liberty Media wants to evaluate different ideas – including a qualifying race on Saturday – during a certain number of 2020 meetings to see if they could be adopted for 2021. For Ross Brawn, motorsport director of the giant American communications, it is the only tangible way to measure the good and bad aspects of the desired developments.

“I would like to see us try different things in 2020, explained the Briton on the sidelines of the Belgian Grand Prix. We have a stable 2020 platform in terms of cars and format, and it's a good opportunity to try variations in one or two races. I don't see any other solution if we want to move forward.

The current format is good but perhaps it would be even better with a sprint race on Saturday (to determine the grid. Ed.) or some other variations in qualification? The teams are ready to play the game during a Saturday to see if we can have something better. »

In favor of such experiments, which are always a little risky, Otmar Szafnauer suggests that they would allow the reaction of the fans. “During our last meeting together, we discussed some solutions on Saturday to mix up the Sunday gride, argues the general manager of Racing Point. We will have further discussions between Monza and Singapore. If it's for the good of the show, there's nothing wrong with trying to see how it works, to get feedback from the fans. I am for. »

But other teams are against it, convinced that this type of full-scale testing will lead to an increase in costs, especially if it is necessary to organize a qualifying race. “It would cost a lot more, because you need more parts since you have two races per weekend, warns Steiner, main team of Haas. 

We would need more MGU-K, as they can break. You have to consider all these things. » Continuation of discussions – and certainly not end – after the Italian Grand Prix.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Italian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Monza, in issue 2233 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.