F1 Sprint Shootout: Formula 1: Formula 1 fans will witness a big change in coming races as FIA announces a new format for Sprint weekends, beginning in 2023. The new format, which was confirmed by the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council, will add a second qualifying session, known as the Sprint Shootout, to the schedule. Follow Formula 1 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN.
This new format will be used at the six Sprint weekends that take place each season, the first of which will be held during the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The previous format had been in use since 2021, where Friday’s qualifying session determined the grid for Saturday’s race, which would then decide the order for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The updated schedule will now see Friday’s qualifying session set the grid for Sunday’s race. Saturday’s Sprint Shootout will dictate the order for the shortened race that follows.
The Sprint Shootout will be like a regular F1 qualifying session, split into three parts, with each of those being shorter. The final eight-minute period could potentially lead to one-lap contests to set the top 10.
Teams will be required to use new sets of tyres in each of the three parts, with medium compounds in SQ1 and SQ2, followed by a switch to softs in SQ3.
New Sprint weekend format
Friday
Practice 1
Grand Prix Qualifying
Sprint Saturday
Sprint Shootout
F1 Sprint
Sunday
Grand Prix
Introducing… Sprint Saturday ✨
🗓️ All-new weekend format
👀 Saturday’s Sprint sessions do not affect the Grand Prix
⏱️ Friday’s qualifying sets Sunday’s grid
🆕 New Sprint Shootout qualifying sessionThe first Sprint Saturday is only four days away! 📅#F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/vPq9kYuyH4
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 25, 2023
How will the points be divided in new Sprint format?
The awarding of points remains unchanged from 2022. The Sprint winner will still score eight points, and that amount will descend by a point for each of the top eight.
P1 – Eight points
P2 – Seven points
P3 – Six points
P4 – Five points
P5 – Four points
P6 – Three points
P7 – Two points
P8 – One point
Is new Sprint format better for F1?
The changes in the format also eliminate a second practice session on Saturday morning, which had been criticised for providing minimal entertainment. After Friday’s qualifying, teams were unable to make any changes to their car setups. Now, teams and drivers will have only Friday’s opening 60-minute practice session to work out their car setups for the rest of the weekend.
The F1 Commission believes that the new format will encourage drivers to take more risks on Saturday as the Sprint contest will no longer set the grid for Sunday’s race, where the most points are on offer.
How Grid Penalties will be applied with new format?
Penalties incurred in the Sprint Shootout will be applied to the Sprint. A grid penalty resulting from an incident during the Sprint will be applied to Sunday’s race, while any breach of parc ferme will result in pit lane starts for both the Sprint and the Race.
Furthermore, any grid penalties caused by breaching power unit limits will only apply to the race, unless their installation also represents a parc ferme breach. The F1 Commission also approved an increase from three to four in the number of power unit elements teams will be allowed to use during the 2023 season, with each driver now having access to an additional internal combustion engine (ICE), turbo charger, MGU-H, and MGU-K.
When are the remaining Sprint events?
Azerbaijan Grand Prix – April 29
Australian Grand Prix – July 1
Belgian Grand Prix – July 29
Qatar Grand Prix – October 7
US Grand Prix – October 21
Sao Paulo Grand Prix – November 4
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