Éric Boullier on sprint races: “A mature approach”

How do you view the “Qualifying Races”?

Rather in a good way, because every experience is worth trying. It's been a long time since the F1 wanted to change the historic format of its weekends. The subject is very sensitive, because it directly affects the DNA of the discipline and I appreciate the maturity with which the matter is handled. There were a lot of discussions, consultations so as not to do anything. The worst would have been for Group F1 to play the sorcerer's apprentice; which is not the case.

If this new format were to prove promising, would you be for its adoption in all rounds of the championship or should it remain an exception?

Once again, I appreciate the approach of testing rather than jumping into the unknown, but if it were to be retained, this new format should apply to all rounds. We operate in a world championship where the rules must be identical. When the time comes to take stock, it will have to be adopted or rejected.

Is this an additional selling point for a developer?

Although all Grands Prix have their own identity, their culture, their color, spectators come first to see F1. She's the queen of the show. I don't think we come to see qualifying or the race specifically, but F1 as a whole. So, from there, once the curiosity has passed, I'm not sure that we will sell more tickets thanks to this new format.

Free practice and qualifying session on Friday, free practice 2 and qualifying race on Saturday and Grand Prix on Sunday, is the increase in power preserved?

Yes ! This would not have been the case if the qualifying session had been replaced by the Qualif' race. It was important to keep this traditional qualifying session which belongs to the DNA of F1 and which allows the drivers to express themselves over a lap, to show their peak of speed. That being said, the success of the qualifying race will also depend on the attitude of the teams. Whether or not they take too conservative an approach.

Finally, a question for the former team boss. Are the financial arrangements requested by the teams justified?

Not only are they justified, but they are even essential. Engine, gearbox, etc. a race has a cost that could not be ignored. Likewise, it was important to provide additional funds for possible material damage. On this side too, F1 shows itself to be very mature in its approach.