F1’s new ‘Sprint Saturday’ format, explained

Components One is again this weekend and headed to the Pink Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Not solely is that this the house race for Pink Bull Racing, nevertheless it is among the dash races on the calendar this season. This yr, F1 unveiled a brand new format, separating the dash race and the grand prix itself. Whereas in years’ previous the outcomes for the dash race would act as qualifying for the race, now these are saved separate. Factors are nonetheless on the road within the dash race, however a foul outcome on Saturday doesn’t doom a workforce’s probabilities within the Grand Prix on Sunday.

Right here is every little thing it’s worthwhile to know concerning the new dash format for 2023.

What’s a dash race

First, we should always deal with a extra primary query.

What’s a dash race?

Dash races in F1 are shorter occasions, run over simply 100 kilometers. There are not any pit stops — until a workforce has to make some repairs — and the result’s hopefully an all out “dash” to the checkered flag.

On the Baku Metropolis Circuit this weekend, meaning a 17-lap race that can final round a half-hour.

The revised format for 2023

Now we will speak concerning the new format.

In earlier seasons, F1 had only one qualifying session on a dash weekend. That may happen on Friday, and set the beginning order for the dash race on Saturday.

How the groups completed within the dash race would set the grid for the Sunday Grand Prix.

Whereas groups would get factors for ending within the high eight of the dash race (with eight factors allotted to the profitable driver and workforce, descending to at least one level for P8) the truth that the beginning order within the Grand Prix was set by the end within the dash race put drivers in some troublesome spots. Certain, you need to push exhausting for a superb end within the dash race, however as a driver you won’t take a danger if the potential is there so that you can crash out of the dash race, and begin on the again within the Grand Prix.

Higher to take a P3 in dash and begin third on Sunday, than it’s to push for a win within the dash and begin P20 on Sunday if one thing unhealthy occurs.

This yr, the format is modified, and F1 has separated the dash race from the Grand Prix. Now there’s a Friday qualifying session which can set the order for the Grand Prix. Then there’s a shorter qualifying session on Saturday which units the grid for the dash race.

The second-hour observe session that historically takes place on Saturday has been eliminated.

How the qualifying will work

Moreover, the qualifying session for the dash race, termed the “Dash Shootout” by F1, has a shorter, revised format.

Within the conventional three-stage qualifying format for the Grand Prix, the primary session (or Q1) lasts 18 minutes. The 5 slowest drivers are knocked out, whereas 15 drivers advance to Q2, which lasts quarter-hour.

On the finish of Q2, the 5 slowest drivers are knocked out, and the highest ten advance to Q3, which lasts 12 minutes.

Within the new Dash Shootout three levels stay, however the time is shorter. Q1 will likely be 12 minutes, Q2 will likely be 10 minutes, and Q3 is now simply 8 minutes. There will likely be a seven-minute break between every session.

Additionally, new compounds are obligatory for every part. Groups are required to run with medium tyres in Q1 and Q2, and with comfortable tyres in Q3.

How do the drivers and groups really feel about it

McLaren

Response to the adjustments, and beginning with a dash race in Baku, has been combined.

Aston Martin Efficiency Director Tom McCullough raised the specter of the added danger of injury and the price cap implications, and Pink Bull Staff Principal Christian Horner blasted the choice so as to add a dash race in Azerbaijan as “ludicrous.”

“The fact is it’s completely ludicrous to be doing the primary dash race of the yr in a road race like Azerbaijan,” Horner advised reporters on the Australian Grand Prix. “However I feel from a spectacle perspective, from a fan perspective, it’s most likely going to be one of the crucial thrilling dash races of the yr. From a price cap perspective, all you are able to do is trash your automobile. And it prices some huge cash round there. So you understand one race is sufficient in Baku. The truth that we’ve obtained two, there may very well be, properly, some motion there.”

Nonetheless, as famous above separating the dash race from the Grand Prix means drivers are maybe free to take some extra probabilities throughout the dash, as a result of there is no such thing as a worry {that a} mistake on Saturday will depart you behind the grid Sunday. I talked with Lando Norris earlier this season, and we mentioned the brand new format.

“I favor it, as a result of I favor that the dash race just isn’t hooked up to the primary race. For me having qualifying, an unique qualifying format Q1/Q2/Q3 with knockouts, and having a foremost race on Sunday, that’s how I like Components 1, it’s how I grew up watching Components 1 in order that’s what I hope they hold,” defined Norris again in April.

“However I feel the addition of the additional qualifying now on Saturday morning and the dash race on Saturday afternoon is best for the followers. It’s extra what they need, it’s a superb alternative for us, we love the racing, we love the stress of all of it. It’s additionally very satisfying for us, I feel even moreso for the followers,” the McLaren driver added. “I feel now that it’s separate to Sunday, in the event you crash, in the event you make a mistake, it doesn’t matter by way of it doesn’t depend in direction of what’s going to occur on Sunday, so that you would possibly be capable to take some extra dangers.”

Nonetheless, lowering observe time to only a single session initially of the weekend poses challenges for the groups. Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin outlined a few of these challenges because the workforce previewed the adjustments this season.

“The drivers will go straight right into a qualifying session on Saturday, which may be very uncommon,” stated Shovlin. “It’s a tall order to count on the drivers to ship a single-lap efficiency instantly so I think everybody will go for multi-lap runs. The medium tyre can deal with a number of laps however with out having a number of units out there, there’s the next probability of getting unfortunate with a pink flag for instance. I feel everybody will get out on monitor and get busy attempting to place laps in.”

As well as, the discount in observe time will take away alternatives for the groups to study, and regulate. “Once you’ve solely obtained FP1, it’s virtually inconceivable to condense all the standard learnings throughout Friday and Saturday into one session,” stated Shovlin. “You lose the chance to give attention to the long term and also you’ve obtained to consider what the actual priorities are.”

That is the second dash race of the 2023 season. Again on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc certified up entrance for the dash race, however couldn’t maintain off Sergio Pérez, who claimed victory within the dash.

We’ll see if Pink Bull can double up on the dash races in a number of days.