This weekend the Formula 1 circus returns to Italy, in Imola, and does so with the new format of the sprint qualifying.
But what exactly is it? The sprint qualifications are short 100 km races held on Saturday (about a third of the Sunday race) whose order of arrival determines the starting grid for the actual race.
Compared to last year, however, a few things have changed.
Like last year, we will see three sprint qualifiers on Saturday, but the tracks that will host them will not all be the same as in 2021.
Apart from the confirmation of Interlagos, Silverstone has been replaced by Imola and the Red Bull Ring will replace Monza.
Italy, therefore, will continue to have its place in the qualifying sprints, even if the Brianza circuit will move on to the track dedicated to Enzo and Dino Ferrari.
The scores also change: if last year three points were awarded to the winner, two to the runner-up and one to the third-placed, this season the first eight to cross the finish line will receive points (8-7-6-5-4 -3-2-1).
Finally, from this year, the pole position will no longer be assigned to the winner of the sprint qualifying but to the winner in the standard qualifying on Friday.
This change was wanted by the leaders of the FIA and Liberty Media to try to make the event more pleasing to the fans, so far rather opposed. Only time will tell if this will be achieved.
