Components One will function a brand new dash format on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after unanimous settlement among the many groups to make a change.
Pending official ratification of the change, F1 is dropping Saturday’s apply session, which normally precedes the dash race, in favour of a standalone qualifying session for that occasion. It means Friday’s qualifying session will now set the race for the grand prix on Sunday, with the result of the dash having no bearing on how a driver begins the principle race.
The highest eight finishers in a dash race will obtain factors (handed out 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1).
The schedule of a dash weekend will now run as follows:
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Friday: Apply, Qualifying
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Saturday: Dash Qualifying, Dash Race
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Sunday: Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The format continues to be controversial — reigning world champion Max Verstappen is among the greatest critics of the dash idea.
Baku is one in all six occasions being held underneath the dash format — Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin’s U.S. Grand Prix and Brazil are the opposite 5. The rationale for the change is F1 boss Stefano Domenicali desires to make all three days of race weekend imply one thing to a spectator.
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Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur mentioned the dash weekend change, which is able to function each time that format is used this yr, is a uncommon second of settlement among the many groups.
“For as soon as I believe all of the groups had been aligned — it is not fairly often that it is the case so now we have to leap on it,” Vasseur informed reporters. “The format is extra dynamic and you’ll focus on about doing it so late [before the race] however on the finish of the day I believe if we’re all aligned then now we have to push for it.
“I just like the format. I am not an enormous fan of the standard FP2, typically it’s kind of boring — not for us as a result of now we have a number of information — however I can think about for the spectators and even for you if you do not know in regards to the degree of gasoline, the engine mode and so forth it is most likely a bit boring, and to attempt to have one thing extra dynamic through the weekend is an efficient choice.”
Domenicali lately induced a stir by saying he’s in favour of cancelling all apply classes, one thing he thinks would profit F1 from a spectator viewpoint.
“In fact, there must be the time for apply, however the persons are coming to see efficiency and the extra that you just give the groups and drivers the prospect to see who they’re, the higher it’s for the present,” Domenicali informed Sky Sports activities through the Australian Grand Prix.
“It is not as a result of we do not respect the traditions, we respect the previous mind-set of our weekend, however it might be unsuitable not to consider it. We even have a brand new era which can be coming in which can be extra aggressive in asking for one thing totally different.”
Talking in regards to the elimination of the second apply session for the dash qualifying session, Vasseur added: “It is true that for those who watch soccer you are not watching the session on Wednesday when they’re coaching within the stadium, and we’re most likely the one sport the place we’re placing the coaching session on TV.”