We're here now. Just a few hours before that new Sprint format is made official. Let's find out together what is needed for the announcement.
The old format
In Baku the format will debut for the first time in the 2023 season Sprint, which will immediately undergo a change compared to the two previous years. Let's go in order: the classic Sprint format includes Friday characterized by the first free practice session, followed by qualifying which establishes the starting grid for the mini-race. Saturday opens with the second free practice session, followed by the Sprint. The order of arrival of the mini-race determines the starting grid for Sunday's race.
The new Sprint
The one just described is nothing more than the classic Sprint format. There is one big one though news: from Bakuindeed, we will have well two qualifying sessions. The first, very confirmed, on Friday which will establish the starting grid for Sunday's race. The second however, it will replace the Saturday morning FP2 and establish the starting grid for the afternoon Sprint. A gap is therefore created between the now ex race-qualifying and the Sunday race, with the two events having no connection to each other.
All set for announcement
The Courtauld Commitment agreement XNUMX there is among the teams, but the announcement that it will arrive on Tuesday is still missing. In fact, the F1 Commission will meet tomorrow, in which the ten teams have one vote each. To these are added the FIA with ten votes and the leaders of F1, also with ten votes. Given that these would be very short-term changes, almost unanimity will be needed of 28 votes out of 30, which with great certainty will arrive. So all that remains is to wait a little longer before experiencing the first, brand new, Sprint-branded weekend.
