Components 1’s divisive dash race format returns for the fourth 12 months this weekend with one more tweak to its format.
Whereas Components One Administration is all the time desirous to hype up the format, its true reputation stays a matter of debate. RaceFans’ Charge the Race information exhibits dash races have persistently didn’t ship the sort of pleasure FOM insists they’re designed for.
The 12 dash races held thus far acquired a median ranking of 5.1 out of 10 from our readers. That compares to a median rating for 316 grand prix held from 2008 to 2023 of 6.7 out of 10.
The figures are a lot the identical when dash races and grands prix are in contrast like-for-like. Over the 12 dash race weekends held thus far, grands prix acquired larger scores 10 occasions, with a median rating one-and-a-half factors larger. Right here’s the way you rated all of them thus far:
2021 British Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 6.3/10Sprint race common ranking: 4.9/10 (-1.4)
Components 1’s first expertise of dash racing was a forgettable affair by any measure, however particularly in comparison with the excessive drama of the grand prix the next day.
Max Verstappen nabbed the lead from pole-winner Lewis Hamilton initially and the pair crossed the road pursued by Valtteri Bottas and Charles Leclerc on the finish of lap one. They remained in that order till the chequered flag fell after 17 laps in 25 minutes of racing, Verstappen selecting up three factors for his victory.
The session additionally set the beginning order for the grand prix. In the primary occasion Hamilton and Verstappen resumed their scrap, which ended with the Purple Bull within the Copse barrier midway across the first lap. Hamilton recovered from a 10-second penalty to disclaim Charles Leclerc victory, to Purple Bull’s utter fury.
2021 Italian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 8.4/10Sprint race common ranking: 3.2/10 (-5.2)
One other ‘dash qualifying’ weekend, one other conflict within the grand prix between Hamilton and Verstappen, the latter touchdown on high of his rival having fallen behind him on account of a gradual pit cease.
Hamilton had left himself with work to do having began the dash race poorly, falling from second to fifth initially. He made no progress from there as the highest eight locations stay unchanged from begin to end. Pierre Gasly’s first-lap crash was the one noteworthy second in a race Valtteri Bottas gained with ease.
Components 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn admitted he was “stunned how tough it was to overhaul even with DRS” as “this was one of many races we chosen as a result of we thought there could be extra alternative.” Monza has not been chosen for a dash race since.
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2021 Brazilian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 8.3/10Sprint race common ranking: 5.5/10 (-2.8)
With Hamilton caught in the back of the grid having been disqualified from qualifying on account of a technical infringement, and Verstappen on pole place, the ultimate dash race of 2021 appeared prone to put extra distance between the championship contenders. However Bottas claimed the lead initially and gained, lowering Verstappen’s haul by a single level, whereas Hamilton gained a exceptional 15 locations in 24 laps.
However once more the grand prix introduced actual drama because the title contenders duelled as soon as extra and this time managed to not hit one another – however solely simply, Verstappen nearly throwing his automotive at Hamilton as he controversially re-passed his rival by sending each off-track at Subida do Lago. Hamilton got here again at his rival and re-passed him for a win which stored his championship hopes alive.
2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 6/10Sprint race common ranking: 5.4/10 (-0.6)
Verstappen took pole however Charles Leclerc nabbed the lead initially and Zhou Guanyu crashed, triggering a Security Automobile interval. The Purple Bull’s superior tyre degradation informed, nonetheless, and he handed Leclerc with two laps to go, accumulating an elevated reward of eight factors for his win.
Beginning the grand prix from the positions they completed Saturday’s race in, Leclerc dropped two locations. Urgent Sergio Perez with 11 laps to go, he spun off at Variante Alta and needed to pit, leaving him sixth on the flag.
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2022 Austrian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 7.8/10Sprint race common ranking: 4.5/10 (-3.3)
F1 has settled on the Purple Bull Ring as one among its most well-liked venues for dash races. The Austrian circuit will maintain its third dash occasion in a row this 12 months.
Not so much occurred in its first, nonetheless, as the highest 4 held the identical positions all through. Perez, who certified a poor thirteenth in his Purple Bull, climbed to fifth on the end.
The principle occasion proved one of many 12 months’s extra partaking fights between Purple Bull and Ferrari. This time Leclerc prevailed although a late hearth on Carlos Sainz Jnr’s automotive denied Ferrari a one-two.
2022 Brazilian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 8.2/10Sprint race common ranking: 7.4/10 (-0.8)
Kevin Magnussen performed a rain-hit qualifying session to perfection and claimed pole place – however just for the dash race, not the grand prix. He dropped backwards shortly, accumulating a degree for eighth place.
Nevertheless this dash race, the final to determine the beginning order for a grand prix, proved extra eventful than most. Though Verstappen took the lead, Purple Bull had not nailed their technique as successfully as regular, and he was caught and handed by each Mercedes and Sainz’s Ferrari earlier than the flag dropped.
The grand prix served up extra drama 2021-style, nonetheless, as Verstappen and Hamilton clashed once more. That ended the Mercedes driver’s hopes of catching his crew mate, who scored his first grand prix victory. Poor Magnussen was bundled out on the primary lap by Daniel Ricciardo, and Haas are nonetheless ready for his or her first grand prix pole place.
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2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 3.7/10Sprint race common ranking: 3.6/10 (-0.1)
Dash races grew to become standalone occasions final 12 months, as seen in Components 2 and Components 3, which now not determine the beginning order for the grid. The primary noticed a tangle between Verstappen and Russell, and never a lot else, whereas pole winner Leclerc was simply handed by Perez.
He triumphed within the grand prix as effectively, main Verstappen as they picked their well beyond Leclerc and put over 20 seconds on their pursuers in one of many much less memorable weekends on Baku’s streets.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 6.5/10Sprint race common ranking: 7.1/10 (+0.6)
The primary dash race to obtain a better rating than the grand prix held on the identical weekend had the benefit of being held in moist circumstances, which are inclined to create unpredictability. Positive sufficient Nico Hulkenberg briefly acquired his Haas as much as second and clung on for sixth place as different drivers made late progress by switching to slicks.
The grand prix, gained by Verstappen at a canter, was notable mainly for the extraordinary variety of post-race penalties handed down for observe limits infringements. A complete of 9 drivers have been sanctioned.
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2023 Belgian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 5.5/10Sprint race common ranking: 4.7/10 (-0.8)
Heavy rain compelled the dash race to be delayed at Spa final 12 months. As soon as it started the sector circulated behind the Security Automobile for thus lengthy solely seven laps have been coated beneath racing circumstances.
Oscar Piastri took the lead via an early pit cease to discard his necessary moist climate tyres for intermediates, however Verstappen handed him to win by six seconds. Pierre Gasly took a powerful third for Alpine.
The grand prix was dry and though Perez led the early levels, Verstappen recovered from his qualifying penalty to take the lead and cruise to victory by 22 seconds.
2023 Qatar Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 5.2/10Sprint race common ranking: 6.4/10 (+1.2)
The winding Losail Worldwide Circuit structure appeared an unpromising venue for a dash race, however the not too long ago resurfaced observe posed challenges for groups who pursued a wide range of tyre picks. That, plus a dramatic three-car collision which determined the world championship, made for one of many extra memorable dash races.
The grand prix was an odd affair, formed by one-off guidelines forcing drivers to repeatedly pit after Pirelli found issues with its tyres. Mercedes’ hopes of difficult Verstappen ended when their drivers tangled on the first nook, and from there the end result was by no means unsure.
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2023 United States Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 6.8/10Sprint race common ranking: 3.4/10 (-3.4)
These two races have been night-and-day totally different. On Saturday, Verstappen led Hamilton and Leclerc all the best way. On Sunday Leclerc misplaced the result in Lando Norris initially, however the actual struggle for the lead was between Hamilton and Verstappen. A gradual pit cease by Purple Bull gave Mercedes an opportunity, however Hamilton was compromised by his tyre technique, and later disqualified from second place on account of a technical infringement.
2023 Brazilian Grand Prix
Grand prix common ranking: 6.6/10Sprint race common ranking: 5.1/10 (-1.5)
Verstappen was on track for an additional dash race win as quickly as he motored previous Norris when the lights went out. The McLaren driver fell to 3rd behind Russell however later regained second place as each Mercedes drivers slipped again with excessive tyre degradation.
The grand prix was the same story, although Norris was fast sufficient to maintain Verstappen trustworthy. Mercedes suffered one other dire afternoon whereas Fernando Alonso impressively denied Perez the ultimate podium place.
Discover all our race and circuit scores right here:
*The 2014 Japanese Grand Prix just isn’t included on account of Jules Bianchi’s crash and the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix just isn’t included on account of a technical fault
