Editorial – Reverse grid

Slowly but surely, we are approaching the acceptance of the principle of the inverted grid by the actors of the Formula 1. For those who missed an episode, this is an artifice present in the sporting regulations of many Sprint disciplines aimed at reshuffling the cards by making the best start from the middle or the back of the grid. Not really a bonus for excellence, more a sleight of hand guaranteeing action on the track, thanks to the numerous overtakes that must result from it.

The Italian Grand Prix and its mountain of penalties for the introduction of new mechanical elements (heat engine, electric, gearbox, etc.) has turned into ridicule. Above all, he offered a real awareness: most of his part changes are not necessary… immediately. This involves setting up in advance an organ bank whose penalties are paid where they are least painful. Like Monza and its straights for example... And it doesn't matter if you have to start from a little further away, you'll know how to go back up. Thus, the car de Verstappen had no worries, but his nest egg of four Grands Prix ahead of Leclerc today offers him the luxury of racing with an almost new car during each GP. Party 7^e, the Dutchman was first in less than 15 laps. Sainz ? Second to last on the grid, 4^e at the arrival. Hamilton ? 18^e, 5th under the checkered flag. Etc.

The moral of this story is that the richest structures (often self-propelled and therefore less sensitive to the budget cap) can afford to complicate their lives for the space of a few laps in the peloton before recovering the best positions. And then, incidentally, this allows development to take place at random. Practical. The next step: Formula 1 will negotiate the end of the budget cap in exchange for the inverted grid. This will go down well with the stables, since it is already the norm...

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