The project for qualifying races in 2020 definitively rejected

Discussions regarding an overhaul of the Grand Prix format Formula 1 from 2020 will result in a status quo. Ross Brawn, Motor Sports director of Liberty Media (owner of F1), explained on Saturday October 26 in Mexico City (Mexico) that Saturday would not be changed.

The plan to organize a handful of qualifying races to determine the starting grid for Sunday could have succeeded if two groups had not vetoed it.

“The teams first said they agreed (for change)then two teams raised their hands during the last meeting (in Paris) and expressed their disagreement » announced Ross Brawn.

We wanted to try a different format on a small number of events next year. On Saturday, the grid would have been based on the reverse order of the Drivers' championship. The sprint format of the race would have decided the Sunday grid. »

The former technical director of Benetton, Ferrari, Honda and Brawn GP were convinced of the merits of this project. “I thought it was a fascinating concept. The drivers were a little nervous, which I can understand, but we were just asking to try this format over three races.

If it didn't work, we would have given up. Otherwise it would have been great. It is frustrating not to have been able to put it together. I think it is, unfortunately, the historic problem of Formula 1 », concluded a rather disappointed Ross Brawn.