Davide Brivio proposes a Grand Prix format to "create more interest"

"I would change the format of the competitions."This is the idea that Davide Brivio came up with during the pre-season tests of MotoGP in Sepang (Malaysia). Interviewed by GPOneThe Trackhouse Racing team manager explained his frustration with the current format of MotoGP Grand Prix weekend sessions. While Liberty Media finalized its €4,2 billion acquisition of Dorna last July, he offered the American giant some ideas for rethinking the championship.

In 2023, MotoGP changed its format with the introduction of Sprint races at each round. With one less free practice session, Friday puts more pressure on the riders. The first day of action sees the riders take part in a single 45-minute free practice session, before returning a few hours later to try for the fastest time in a Practice session whose times determine the ten riders who qualify directly for Q2.

On Saturday, FP2 gives drivers the opportunity to fine-tune their setups before the start of a qualifying session that counts for both the Sprint and the main race. However, for those who missed out on Friday, Q1 only offers two spots to try and secure a place on the first four rows of the starting grid. Therefore, the Italian engineer regrets that Friday "conditions" the rest of a weekend that a simple unforeseen event can ruin.

When asked about the changes he would make to the current format, Brivio made the following proposal: "This Friday afternoon should be the qualifying session for the sprint race. Then we should have a proper qualifying session for Sunday's race. I think that would be more spectacular. It would create more interest."

Towards a copy-paste of F1?

A format reminiscent of Sprint weekends in Formula 1Held six times during a season, the event is structured as follows: Friday features FP1 (1 hour) followed by the Sprint Shootout, the qualifying session that determines the starting grid for the Sprint race. The following day, the Sprint race takes place in the morning and precedes the regular qualifying session for Sunday's race. This allows teams to fine-tune their setups after the Sprint without risking everything at once. Davide Brivio, formerly with the team Alpine Having been in Formula 1, between his experiences at Suzuki and Trackhouse Racing, he would like Liberty Media to start... "copy" the model applied to the car.

Regarding the arrival of the new owner of MotoGP, he adds: “I believe they’ve done a very good job in Formula 1 and that they have ideas and strategies to improve the model in MotoGP as well. I don’t think we can transpose what has been done in F1 to MotoGP. There are differences, but the experience gained in F1 will be useful. There will be optimization with resources from F1, which could also work here. Or, some things done in F1 will inspire the activity here. That’s what we expect.”

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