By Joe Murphy
Formula 1 teams have unanimously agreed to reorder the sport’s Sprint weekend format for the 2024 season and beyond. The changes, so far accepted as positive by the vast majority of fans, affect how the race weekend looks to viewers.
The half dozen events have been altered ever so slightly in an attempt to create a better race weekend experience. It is understood the FIA have also taken into consideration the wishes of drivers and teams alike.
Following the traditional free practice on a Friday, the ‘Sprint Shootout’ will then take place. Previously, this slot had been allocated to qualifying for Sunday’s actual Grand Prix. As per the changes, this traditional qualifying session will now take place on Saturday.
The Sprint race itself will take place first thing on Saturday, instead of Practice 2. With official qualifying happening a few hours later. The Grand Prix will remain a Sunday fixture.
The changes were agreed at the F1 Commission meeting in London on Monday, although they are still subject to approval from the sport’s governing body. However, these changes are expected to pass with relative ease.
China, Miami, Austria, the United States (Austin), Sao Paulo and Qatar are the weekends that will stage the Sprint format races this year.
Bother change relates to each driver’s power unit allocation. This, it has been decided, will be increased from four to five for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. This is due to the sheer amount of penalties we are seeing across the grid, being taken for exceeding previous, smaller allocations.
Furthermore, DRS activation during races will take place after only one lap, rather than two. Much like with the changes mentioned previously, this is to improve the race experience and overall entertainment of the action. These changes have been in the works for some time and anything to make F1 more exciting has to, at the very least be given a chance.
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