Drivers curious to try the qualifying races

No outpouring of joy, no outcry. The announcement of the introduction of qualifying races in 2021 received a prosaic and pragmatic reception among the drivers.

Unanimously adopted last Monday by the Commission F1, the measure provides for the implementation of a revised program over 3 meetings, which should be those of Silverstone (Great Britain), Monza (Italy), and Interlagos (Brazil).

On these weekends, qualifying will take place on Friday afternoon after a single free practice session. They will be used to form the grid for a 100 kilometer Sprint round which will be held on Saturday afternoon. The result of this shortened event will then determine the starting order of the Sunday Grand Prix, which will maintain its usual length. 

The qualifying race will yield a handful of additional points with 3 points awarded to the Saturday winner, 2 to his runner-up, and 1 to the last representative of the Top 3. 

« I see the interest in the people who are in the stands on Friday, reacted Pierre Gasly with representatives of the French press this Thursday in Portimão. Afterwards, I didn't really understand the points system with only the first 3 rewarded. We know that Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, are not really in our race with a view to the championship ». 

His friend Charles Leclerc described the concept as “ interesting ", especially since it will allow pilots " to attack from start to finish ". Indeed, pit stops are not obligatory during the qualifying race and teams can choose the tires used at the start freely and independently of their result in qualifying. 

The Monegasque of Ferrari however, hopes that the Sprint rounds “do not devalue the Sunday Grand Prix, which must remain the main race”. 

At Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton hailed “ open-mindedness » which F1 demonstrates in his eyes. “ I have always said that certain races deserve to try new formats, commented the seven-time world champion. 

Take Monaco for example: it's a great place to race but the Grand Prix isn't necessarily thrilling ». 

His counterpart Aston Martin Sebastian Vettel expects to experience more intense weekends, without it really being a compliment in the German's mouth. 

« You will have to find your settings very quickly, from the first turns of the wheel but it will be the same for everyone », he grumbled. 

Among the rookies, Yuki tsunoda greeted a “ good idea » of F1 but the pocket talent ofAlpha Tauri was worried about the possible consequences on his results in Brazil (if the meeting is maintained...), a track that he will discover and where he will have completed only one free session before qualifying on Friday. 

« F1 drivers don't care about the track time they have, they know how to take their car to the limit in the sessions that count, commented for his part Carlos Sainz for Ferrari. I don't expect to see the grid shaken up but it could be interesting to have one more race. It’s our reason for being after all, it’s what we prefer. Let's see what these Sprint Races will be like ». 

The Spaniard summed up the state of mind of the drivers well this Thursday in Portugal. As someone would say, they all want to give the product a chance.