As anticipated yesterday, on the ground of the Azerbaijani track a new format will be introduced. The sprint variant introduced by Liberty media in agreement with teams and FIA it will change the rules of the game, increasing spectacle and uncertainty. But will everyone really benefit from the introduction of this novelty?
New sprint format, a short recap
Caspian weekend will be so stuffed: on the day of Friday we will take to the track for the first and only free practice session, to then draw the curves of the city on the occasion of the qualifying that will sanction the grid of the Sunday race. On the day of Saturdayinstead, instead of FP2, 10:30 the qualification that will draw up the sprint grid, which will be held a few hours later, in the afternoon.
In short, a sort of head-scratching format that will push teams and fans out of their comfort zone. The idea (yet another) born from the business side of Formula 1 it is a concentrate of shows, but it hides pitfalls that could make the weekend take an outdated turn, with the risk of dissatisfying teams and fans.
Sprint evolution, too many doubts and questions
There are many questions that will have arisen for the teams in view of the new format. One of all, how will it happen tire management over the weekend. The two qualifying sessions and the two races, one short and one normal, will not be easy to interpret as regards the planning of use of the Pirelli compounds. Complicating things will do its part too the atypical nature of the route, unique in its kind in the mix between slow ninety-degree curves and an almost endless straight. In short, a mix of characteristics that is not easy to interpret given the one hour of rehearsals before running into the beginning of the sessions where going faster than the others becomes a must.
Focus on teams: will they benefit or not?
It's early to tell, but there are aspects of the format that could be indigestible to some teams. For example, the practice session alone. How much sense does it make to define the grid of the race "that counts" on Friday, and moreover after just one hour of practice? The idea clashes, above all considering that the single-seaters are relatively new, and many teams find it difficult to find the square in a whole weekend, let alone in an hour, moreover at a different time from that of the Sunday race. There is no doubt that between this variant and the past one, the teams prefer the more recent one. The idea of having a free practice session in a parc fermé regime only useful for the driver's confidence did not excite the teams, and it is probably for this reason that Liberty did not encounter any particular opposition.
However, the problem lies at the base, and not in the concursus advantages-disadvantages between the old and the new format. The reason is soon said. The upcoming one is effectively a weekend within the weekend, something never seen in the premier class. With the old sprint weekendIn fact, a common thread was maintained between the various days. In the new variant, Saturday will be completely an end in itself, as it will not condition the Sunday grid, already established for Friday. It would be foolish to reject the 'new' even before seeing it underway, but seeing the sport's summit move the strings of his puppet with such ease and without opposition raises concern, especially for tomorrow.
Liberty and fans: more entertainment equals more fun?
It would seem a common belief, in the offices of Liberty, that squeeze the business F1 corresponds to a proportional increase in the benefit derived from the fans. To hear Stefano domenicali, the 'youth' asset, which is undoubtedly the one to focus on, he wants nothing more than show. The category of youngsters is now used as an excuse for any new bizarre idea, but seeing the reactions of these, one would doubt that the sample taken by Liberty for his polls is fallacious, assuming that these have been done. They are not fewIn fact, fans loyal to the classic format which has reigned supreme for decades. According to many, the beauty of the race lies in waiting and preparing for it. In conclusion, it would be advisable to pay attention to making continuous sudden changes of course, because the risk is to end up with a sport drained of the seriousness it deserves.
In the short term, the show could certainly benefit Liberty's pockets, but be careful to exaggerate with milking, because all the gain drawn from a perspective with no long-term prospects could lead to the owners finding something in their hands from which it is impossible to squeeze anything else. .
