Yahoo Autos FIA Approves Sprint Qualifying for F1, And Here's How It Will Work
To get the most points out of three Formula 1 Grands Prix weekends, drivers and teams will need to win two races.
On Monday, the FIA issued a statement confirming its approval of Sprint Qualifying at three Grands Prix in 2021. Instead of traditional session qualifying, a 100-kilometer (62-mile) sprint race will determine starting order for Sunday's race.
While Formula 1 toyed with different points incentives to encourage teams to actually treat the Sprint Qualifying as a true race and give the fans a true show, the FIA settled on a rather modest format. The winner of the qualifying race will earn three championship points, in addition to the pole for Sunday's race. Second place in qualifying will be worth two championship points and third place one. Earlier versions of the plan called for paying as many as eight places deep for qualifying.
F1 teams have offered concerns about added cost and toll on equipment that a Saturday sprint race could mean. Those concerns were not addressed in Monday's statement.
The FIA did not say which three races will host the Spring Qualifying format this season, other than to say, "These events will be held at two European and one non-European venue. Earlier reports suggested that Brazil and Silverstone were being considered.
The new format will be part of a race weekend that will include:
Friday
60-minute first free practice
Normal qualifying format to determine the grid for the Saturday Sprint Qualifying race
Saturday
60-minute second free practice session
100 kilometer Sprint Qualifying race
The change in format is designed to spice up the Friday and Saturday portions of a Grand Prix weekend for both fans in the stands and for the worldwide TV audience.
"I am pleased to see that Formula 1 is seeking new ways to engage with its fans and enlarge the spectacle of a race weekend through the concept of Sprint Qualifying," said Jean Todt, FIA president. "It was made possible thanks to the continued collaboration between the FIA, Formula 1 and all of the teams.
